Bonding, however, is not a given. It is very critical that the parents actively establish these bonds in order for their children to properly develop emotionally as they mature. For an infant, time spent with the parents determines the strength of the bonds. In the beginning, a baby knows love simply by being held, and his or her connection to the larger world is the warmth he or she feels in the arms of loving parents.

Even at a young age, infants sense tension, but of course they cannot fathom the reasons for it. If tension continues the child may appear to be nervous, especially around new people. A baby exposing to squabbling parents will most likely begin to wail. Children may become edgy and have frequent emotional outbursts. Their normal development may be slowed.

A child in a tense home may have an uneasy stomach, irregular eating habits and a loss of appetite. Parents should try to maintain a normal routine, rely on friends and family for help, and give the child his or her favorite toys or security items.