The process of forming attachment between a child and parent unfolds in predictable stages during the first years of life. Understanding these stages is essential for parents who want to nurture secure, confident children.

These different stages shape a child’s ability to trust, explore, and regulate emotions throughout life.

In the first months, infants are in the pre-attachment stage. Babies instinctively seek closeness through crying, looking, and reaching, responding positively to comfort from any adult. At this point, they do not yet show a preference for a particular parent but rely on others to meet their basic needs for food, warmth, and safety.

Between about six weeks and six months, the attachment-in-the-making stage begins. Babies start to recognise and prefer familiar faces, especially their parents. They respond more readily to their mother’s or father’s voice and are comforted most by those who care for them consistently. Smiles, coos, and eye contact become important signals in building the early emotional bond.

From six months to around two years, children enter the clear-cut attachment stage. They form a strong preference for their main parent, showing separation anxiety when apart and seeking comfort and reassurance on reunion. This is a crucial period for building trust, as children learn that their parent will return and provide support when needed.

The final stage, called the formation of reciprocal relationships, emerges as children approach two years old. As language and understanding develop, children begin to grasp that departures are temporary and that they can rely on their parent’s return. This new awareness reduces separation anxiety and marks the beginning of greater independence.

Each stage of attachment is a building block for emotional security. By responding with sensitivity and consistency at each step, parents help children develop the resilience and confidence needed to thrive.