Symptoms in Infants and Toddlers
It is understandable that parents and professionals can mistake this apparent “good behavior” as healthy. Rather than being genuinely content, happy, and emotionally connected, as her outward appearance might suggest, the baby was, in reality, sad, resigned and emotionally disconnected. The Infant Attachment Checklist determines whether the infant is in the unhappy and fussy group or the excessively good group.
RAD is detectable early in infancy. Originally, my work with RAD was with older children, not infants. As I worked with the parents of these older children, many reported thinking something was wrong with their child as an infant. Usually, the adoptive mothers were the first to recognize “problems” in their infants, but they could not adequately describe what was wrong. Often they sought help from numerous professionals who were unsuccessful in recognizing the RAD symptoms in their babies.
There is another scenario that is prevalent with RAD. Babies can appear bonded in infancy only to develop symptoms of RAD as they become toddlers. Over the years, many parents stated their babies appeared bonded during infancy. Either RAD was not present in infancy and developed later, or the parents did not recognize the RAD symptoms in their baby. As their baby grew older, he either developed RAD or the condition then manifested itself in ways the parents could easily recognize.
Early detection and intervention leads to the most complete healing of children with RAD, with the least financial cost and emotional trauma to the child and his family.
The following general statements will help you to answer the checklist items and develop an understanding of RAD in an infant.
- Early in infancy, most babies with RAD reject at least some of their parents’ love. This dynamic is apparent in many small ways. Ask yourself these questions: “Does your child accept your affection or love? Does he accept your touch when you hold or cuddle him? Does he enjoy your physical closeness?”
- Does your baby let you nurture him when he is upset, hungry, frightened, or uncomfortable? When you care for him, does it help him feel better? When you love him, does it make a difference to him? Often when the parents give love and affection to their baby with RAD, he does not receive or accept it. Many mothers say, “No matter what I do with my baby, it doesn’t seem to help or affect him.”
- Try to determine if there is a growing emotional connection between you and your baby. Is there a relationship of love, trust, and reciprocity developing? This is evidenced by eye contact and imitative or reciprocal behavior. Does your baby look at you, notice you, and respond to you? After working with one mother and baby for a week, the mother stated, “I notice my baby staring at me. She watches me like she hasn’t seen me before.” Remarkably, the baby had lived in this home for seven months, but the mother reported, “It is as though she is seeing me for the first time.”
- Does your baby prefer being close to you rather than being alone? The overly good baby is disarming because he appears to be easy, cooperative, and content. He can appear bonded because he seems to accept whatever you give him and makes little or no demands. Overtly, he acts happy and problem free but internally he is unbonded.
With a medical illness, the patient is often the first person to recognize that a problem may exist. Adequate medical information helps these individuals know whether to seek professional assistance. The same is true with RAD. As parents, you are in a position to see the early signs of problems in your baby. Even if the condition is mild, RAD is serious and should not be ignored. A mild attachment problem in infancy that is manageable or undetected can lead to significant emotional and behavioral problems in toddlers and older children.
If you have questions or concerns about your infant, consult with an attachment clinician in your area.
DSMIV Diagnostic criteria for 313.89
Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
Behavenet Clinical Capsule
Credits: Used with permission from:
Walter D. Buenning, Ph.D.
1773 S. 8th Street, Ste. 202
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 477-9033
Dr. Buenning has a private practice in Colorado Springs. Prior to working with adoptive families, he worked for twenty years in mental health centers in several Western states.
