In each person's life much of the joy and sorrow revolves around attachments or

affectionate relationships -- making them, breaking them, preparing for them, and

adjusting to their loss by any means. Yet of all these bonds, nothing compares to that

formed between a mother or father and his or her newborn infant. Bonding does not refer

to mutual affection between a baby and an adult, but to the phenomenon whereby adults

become committed by a one-way flow of concern and affection to children for whom they

have cared during the first months and years of life. According to J. Robertson in his

book, A Baby in the Family Loving and Being Loved, individuals may have several

hundred acquaintances in there lifetimes, but at any given moment there are only a limited

number of persons to whom they are closely attached. He explains that much of the

richness and beauty of life is derived from these close relationships which each person has

with a small number of individuals -- mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, son,

daughter, and a small cadre of close friends (Robertson 1).

Attachment is crucial to the survival and development of the infant. Many

needed, they are likely to enter into healthy relationships (Berman 35). Berman states the

past experiences of the mother are a major determinant in molding her care-giving role.

that parents need to understand that their bonding should not be dissolve after 2,3,5 or

are some homes in which children are raised so permissively or so haphazardly that they

Robertson, J. A Baby in the Family: Loving and being Loved.Penguin Books, London:

in the future (Stewart 30). Claire Berman explains that it is not only the mother-child

vow), they face life with uncertainty. When they do not receive the nurturing that's

parents need to understand that the bonding which will take place in the earlier stages of

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1607
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)