The impact of maternal-infant attachment style on infant sleep regulation

Abstract

This article explores the fundamental manifestations of maternal-infant emotional attachment in the postpartum period and their correlation with the characteristics of infant sleep.

Drawing upon established attachment theories, the study highlights the depth and quality of the mother-infant bond, emphasizing its role in shaping the child’s ability to regulate sleep.

The analysis underscores that behavioral sleep disturbances are not contingent upon birth order, age, gender, or the family’s socio-economic status. Rather, they are inherent to the child’s natural developmental trajectory. The author posits that sleep disturbances should not be viewed solely as physiological phenomena but as reflections of the child’s emotional and psychological well-being.

Furthermore, sleep constitutes an essential component of the vital instinct that safeguards the infant from the overwhelming stimuli of the external world, which may otherwise inundate the immature and unprepared psyche of the newborn.

Achieving optimal and high-quality sleep necessitates the integration of psychological physiological, and environmental factors, with maternal emotional responsiveness playing a pivotal role in this equilibrium.

In high of this, the article presents a pilot study investigating the relationship between maternal-infant attachment style and the methods employed for sleep regulation, providing empirical insights into this intricate dynamic.