Attachment security in infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorders.

The team watched how babies act during a short separation and reunion with mom.

They compared two groups: babies who have an older brother or sister with autism, and babies whose siblings are typically developing.

All babies were about 15 months old.

The researchers used the classic "Strange Situation" test to label each baby as secure, insecure, or disorganized in attachment.

Both groups formed secure bonds at the same rate.

Most babies in each group sought comfort from mom after the brief separation.

The only difference was style: more autism-risk babies showed a quiet, low-key secure pattern (called B1-B2).

Rates of disorganized attachment did not differ between groups.

Rutherford et al. (2007) saw social lags—less smiling and joint attention—in the same infant-sibling sample at 6–12 months.

Those early gaps did not stop the babies from building a secure bond by 15 months.

Koegel et al. (2014) later looked at toddlers already diagnosed with ASD and found that both moms and dads matter for attachment; our target paper shows the risk process starts earlier but still ends secure for most.

Turgeon et al. (2021) reported high disorganization in school-age children with intellectual disability; in contrast, the infant ASD-risk group here showed typical disorganization rates, suggesting risk may rise later or only with added cognitive delay.

You can reassure families that having an older child with autism does not block their baby from forming a safe, secure bond.

When you coach parents, note that quiet, calm reunions are still secure—no need to push big dramatic hellos.

Keep tracking social communication milestones, but use this data to ease worry and focus parent training on warmth and sensitivity, not fear.