Parent-Child Attachment and Its Importance to the Pediatrician

Attachment is the bond established early between a child and his or her mother and which since its evolutionary origin has ensured the continuation of the species. It is vital that this bond be established in conditions favorable for the good emotional and cognitive development of the child to strengthen his or her mental health. The formation of such bonds in unfavorable conditions creates different types of attachment that can result in behavioral disorders that affect the child into adulthood and can explain the acquired origin of many psychiatric illnesses. Creation of attachment is intergenerational, and preventative measures in pregnant women with risk factors must be promoted to facilitate positive attachments, meaning that the pediatrician must be aware of his or her role in its promotion.