Attachment Observation

Part A

1. I watched a 10-month-old baby boy. This observation took place at home in the living room. In the
living room, there is a large sectional couch and an entertainment center adjacent to the couch. The rest
of the room is wide open on the floor for plenty of room for the baby. The people there were the
mother, female friend, baby. And I. The observation was for 15 minutes.

2. When I arrived home with the mother we walked in and saw the babysitting on the adults’ lap. The
friend was singing to the baby, and he was grabbing her hair and smiling. The door was unlocked so we
were able to walk in without interrupting and having them get up. The boy’s eyes immediately went to
his mother as we walked into the living room. The friend began to bounce him on her lap and continue
singing. The baby began to frown. He immediately started putting his hands up toward his mother. As
the mother approached and picked him up, he began to laugh and smile.
Part B
1. He wanted his mother as soon as he saw her. He was no longer interested in what he was doing or
with anyone else around. He even began to frown until he was picked up.

2. The mother responded to his behavior by coming to him and comforting him. Her tone and
presence made him smile and laugh.

3. She seems to want to make the baby happy staying with her. She tries to cheer him up by bouncing
him and playing with him. She tries to keep the baby seated so the mother can settle in before grabbing
the baby, but that’s not what the baby wants.

4. Yes, therefore I think we see the mother go for the baby instead of ignoring him and settling into the
house first. She knows him frowning will soon lead to crying if he is not given the attention he is asking
for.

Part C
1. Wanting to sit on her lap and be close with her. He is grabbing and touching her hair and starring
into her eyes with a smile on his face. He wants to be held and played with. But when the mother comes
in, he wants the attention to be from her, not the caregiver.

2. The friend was holding and bouncing the baby. She was listening to his body language and doing
actions that would make him laugh or smile. She knew he liked the singing, so she used that to engage
and form an attachment.

Part D
1. I felt that the baby was doing just fine and having fun before we came in. He “acted” unhappy when
we came in because he wanted to be with his mother. I think she should have walked away and let the
baby stay with the caregiver to see if his mood changed. The mother said he would have started crying
for her if she did not pick him up.
2. I would say to have them observe the child more without the mother and see that he is doing fine
without her being around. I would also say when the mother does come around, she should sit in the
room and socialize with the baby while he is playing but not pick him up. The caregiver can put the baby
on the floor with toys, so he has other things to catch his attention as well, instead of only his mother.