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Ways To Bond With Your New-Born Baby

Ways To Bond With Your New-Born Baby

Ways To Bond With Your New-Born Baby

 

Bonding and attachment are about always responding to your new-born’s needs with love, warmth and care. When you do this, you become a special, trusted person in your baby’s life.

Bonding between you and your new-born is a vital part of development.

Most of us imagine that magical moment of pure ‘bonding’ with our new baby, and while some mums do feel that right from day one, there are plenty who don’t. Both are totally normal and okay.

It’s completely normal to take a few days, a few weeks or several months to feel that special bond. It’s also important not to feel under pressure to bond or feel a failure as a mum if you haven’t bonded. Bonding is truly an individual experience, and it’s just as reasonable to expect the bond to develop over a period of time as it is for it to develop instantaneously.

Go easy on yourself: Being a new parent is exhausting.

 

Tips to bond with your baby

 

  • Get closer with your bump
Bonding with bump

Image source – – mother & baby

The bonding begins since you get pregnant. When you’re pregnant, what you do, your diet, your stress level and your health affect your baby. So, pregnancy is a great time to get a head start on building a strong mother/child connection. Pay close attention to your baby’s kicking and moving, and talk to them.

  • Breastfeed your baby
Bond over breastfeeding

Image source – Kate_Griffin_Photography

Breastfeeding provides an incredible opportunity for bonding. While you nourish your baby, they snuggle in close (exactly where they want to be) and take in your scent, the sound of your heartbeat, and the sensation of your touch. Since your baby can only see roughly 8-12 inches, it’s the perfect time for soothing talk as you gaze into each other’s eyes. This is how babies first learn to trust and be comforted by you. Also, nursing releases feel-good hormones prolactin and oxytocin, which promote relaxation and attachment.

  • Bottle feeding
Bond over bottle feeding

Image source – Belle Verdiglione Photography

It’s okay if you choose not to breastfeed. Amazing bonding happens with the bottle too. You can hold your baby close and lavish them with all the same nourishment, attention, eye contact, touching, and talking.

  • Skin to skin connection
Skin to skin bonding

Image source – Cochrane.org

Babies respond to touch from the moment they’re born. Holding your baby close on your bare chest is known as “skin-to-skin,” and it’s one of the best things you can do for your new-born. Early, constant contact with your warm skin helps to stabilize his body temperature, heart rate, and stress levels. It also releases oxytocin in both of you.

  • Massage your baby
Massage your baby

Image source – healthywomen.org

You will not regret this session as you listen to your baby makes relaxing sounds and giggles as you massage them. Follow your baby’s signals to know when to stop them.

  • Sleep with your baby
Sleep with your baby

Image source – Parents Magazine

Try to have your baby sleep in your room in a bassinet next to or attached to your bed. Babies tend to be much calmer and sleep better when they sense you nearby.

  • You already know why you want to sniff them
Sniffing your baby

Image source – Today’s parent

It is one such pleasure of the world to smell a baby. But it is a whole different scent when it’s your own baby. You’ll find that your little one’s scent is even more intoxicating than any other baby’s. Connect on the smell and they will connect with yours as you hold them.

  • Set a good schedule
Baby sleeping schedule

Image source – health.harvard.edu

Babies are creatures of habit. If you stick to a schedule, your little one will feel more at ease. They will know when it’s time to feed or nap and will respond well.

  • Talk, read and sing to your baby
Read and sing to your new born

Image source – zerotothree.org

There is nothing more familiar or calming to your baby than the sound of your voice. You can narrate to them about surrounding things. Try to read to them or near them. You may not be a great singer but your singing will always be fun to your baby.

  • Connect over dancing
Dance with your baby

Image source – pinterest

Your baby just spent nine months swishing around in your womb. They deserve to move around. Babies usually love rhythm. Do not worry about your dancing skills. Just hold your baby in your arms and lightly swing on your favourite music and watch them giggle.

  • Bring out your silly side
Play time with baby

Image source – aptaclub

You will never know the extent of your silliness until you have been a mother and tried to entertain your baby. From wiggling your eyebrows to sticking out your tongue, it will all pay off when you hear your baby’s precious laughter.

 

The more time mothers spend with their babies early on, the quicker mom and baby get to know each other, and the more confident they feel.

Bonding with a new baby isn’t always an instant process. The more you touch, hold and get to know your baby, the more your love will gradually grow.

 

Also read –50 questions to ask your kid for bonding

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