The impact of early maternal employment on infant wellbeing and attachment

This article presents the findings of a non-exhaustive critical literature review, which investigates the effects of early maternal employment (EME) on infant attachment and wellbeing. EME is defined as maternal employment commencing in the first year of the infant’s life (Brooks-Gunn et al, 2010). As the number of mothers who return to work after having children has increased drastically over the past 30 years (O’Reilly, 2012), there is currently very little evidence and no current UK policy or guidance in relation to EME in order to support women in making the often difficult decision to return to work after giving birth.