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A sample of 147 mother–infant dyads was recruited from a peri‐urban settlement outside Cape Town and seen at 2‐ and 18‐months postpartum. At 18 months, 61.9% of the infants were rated as securely attached (B); 4.1% as avoidant (A); 8.2% as resistant (C); and 25.8% disorganized (D). Postpartum depression at 2 months, and indices of poor parenting at both 2 and 18 months, were associated with insecure infant attachment. The critical 2‐month predictor variables for insecure infant attachment were maternal intrusiveness and maternal remoteness, and early maternal depression. When concurrent maternal sensitivity was considered, the quality of the early mother–infant relationship remained important, but maternal depression was no longer predictive. Cross‐cultural differences and consistencies in the development of attachment are discussed.