You have a baby, now what? Now is not time to sit back and wait for motherly instincts to kick in. The truth is that if you’re a new mom, you may have to put forth a little extra effort. Instead of waiting for those maternal instincts to just kick in, it’s wise for mothers-to-be to think about ways they can bond with their babies before labor begins. These tips can help moms get on track with bonding early on so their babies will already feel comfortable around them.
Skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their babies, sometimes called kangaroo care is a great way to promote bonding. Whether you’re holding your baby in your arms or cuddling them against your bare chest, skin-to-skin contact is important for creating a bond between you and your child. It also provides many health benefits for both of you. Skin-to-skin contact is one of many ways you can help your baby bond with you. A Swedish study found that skin-to-skin contact with a parent immediately after birth led to higher levels of oxytocin in both mother and child, which helped increase milk production. Plus increased self-esteem and attachment. It’s most beneficial right after delivery when it will give your newborn immediate relief from pain and stress and help his or her breathing and heart rate stabilize.
If you are breastfeeding your baby, respond to his cries immediately. When you respond quickly to your baby’s cries, he will be comforted by your presence. If you wait too long to respond, he may feel frustrated and not comforted by your presence. If you are bottle-feeding your baby, check on him every five minutes or so. Ask yourself if there is anything that can be done differently so that he will take his milk better. Consider changing positions or singing a soothing song during feedings if these tactics help improve his mood and attitude toward eating.
Research has shown that mothers should engage with their babies during bottle time to help them bond. Studies have shown that babies are more likely to pay attention to people who are looking into their eyes, which creates a stronger bond. Babies are also more likely to mimic behaviors that they see in someone else.
Mothers should look deeply into their baby’s eyes when giving him or her a bottle. So he or she can get used to paying attention during feeding time. In addition, moms should hold their babies upright and talk softly to them as they drink from a bottle. Parents will be rewarded for all of their hard work by seeing that bond grows over time as both mom and baby learn how best to communicate.
This is great because it’s not only a chance to bond with your baby, but you’ll also get a feel for whether he or she is alert and happy. Spend some time talking and singing to your baby as you both look in the mirror together. As a new parent, it’s easy to be caught up in ensuring your baby is healthy and happy. If you’re not looking in a mirror with your baby yet, you might want to start. Looking in a mirror will make your feel good about yourself as well as help promote bonding with your baby.
Of course, before you can bond with your baby, he needs to be physically safe. Just because a baby is lying on his back doesn’t mean he can’t roll over and suffocate—or that crib bumpers aren’t hazardous for him as well. In addition to keeping your baby safe from medical issues, you also want to make sure he is physically safe from falling off things or getting hurt by objects in his environment.
Sleep is a vital part of your baby’s development and health. This doesn’t change when you’re a new parent; it actually becomes more important than ever to ensure that you get enough rest and your baby gets what he or she needs to grow and thrive. You can begin bonding with your baby right from birth by helping her get plenty of sleep. The best way to help your baby sleep better is to be sure that you do, too. Remember, newborns don’t know how to regulate their own sleep cycles yet, so it falls on you (and dad) to take care of things while mom naps.
Buying your baby some soft, cuddly toys will give him something to bond with. If you’re going to be a stay-at-home parent. Make sure you have a few toys in your home for when you and your baby come home from a long day at work. Keeping a few items in case one gets dirty or is misplaced can help facilitate bonding time when you get home from work. As with anything else, practice makes perfect. You’ll be surprised by how quickly bonding with your baby will feel natural and rewarding. The more comfortable you are being around her, touching her skin. Being close to her, the more comfortable she’ll be with it too.
The best way to bond with your baby is by simply being silly. By playing around and laughing with your baby, you’ll be showing them that it’s okay to have fun. This is vital when they are younger because it makes them more open to trying new things in life. They won’t know how to handle many situations in adulthood if they haven’t had any experience with them when they were small, so being silly is a great way to put yourself in their shoes. Laughter really is contagious after all!. Just don’t feel pressured to constantly entertain your child- they will learn more from watching adults than they will from constantly being engaged with playtime activities.
The bond between parent and child is an important one, but it doesn’t come automatically. What many parents don’t realize is that not only does it take time to develop, but also that it varies from person to person—some parents might feel a deep attachment right away while others might not for several months. Bonding with your baby has so many benefits though, including lower stress levels in both parents, and babies who are more attached to their caregivers are more secure when they are adults. Establishing a bond early will help you through all of your parenting years, too. The hard part is actually getting there!
Fathers play an important role in child development during these early years. It’s okay if you aren’t able to spend as much time with your infant as you’d like. Bonding will still take place. You just need to remember that every interaction matters, so don’t assume your actions are too small for them to matter. Studies have shown that holding hands for just six minutes at a time has measurable effects on infants’ brains, so get comfortable touching your newborn without being afraid of spoiling him or her.
The goal here isn’t perfection; it’s doing what you can even when sleep-deprived and struggling to stay upbeat through short bouts of colic. Babies thrive when they know they’re loved unconditionally, so don’t feel bad about bonding with your baby by breastfeeding instead of pumping breast milk during those first few weeks after birth or opting for skin-to-skin contact over lots of cuddling.
The truth is, no one knows exactly how babies feel about kisses. But they certainly like them! Kissing your baby is important for more than just bonding with her; it also helps calm her down and make her feel better. It’s simple to do—just use your lips to press against your baby’s cheeks, nose, forehead, or belly (you don’t even have to close your eyes!). If you’re breastfeeding, try kissing one of her hands while she nurses. Or give a big kiss on top of each foot or hand before naptime or bedtime. It might sound silly, but it actually works! Just keep kissing your little one often—she’ll love it.
New parents sometimes can’t help but worry about whether they’re doing things right or not, especially if their sleep habits are suffering due to late-night feedings. The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep your stress levels low by setting aside time for some me-time every day—take a warm bath or spend some time reading a book while sipping tea. Even just 10 minutes alone in a quiet room can refresh your mind so you come back feeling positive and refreshed for when baby wakes up ready to play again.
No matter what technique works best for getting through each night. You’ll know that all that time spent together. Even when he doesn’t seem like he’s paying attention is worth it at the end of each day when he reaches his tiny hand up toward yours before falling asleep. Each of those sleepy moments of sweet bonding goes a long way toward nurturing and growing your relationship with him over time. Bonding isn’t always easy or convenient, but focusing on these few tips should make sure both parent and child enjoy plenty of cozy snuggles along the way! Good luck!
Get informed about discounts and get a personalized newsletter sent to you every month!
English
Arabic
English
French
German
Hebrew