Bonding With Your Baby

Some people believe there is a natural bond between a parent and their new baby. However, this is not always the case and bonding can be difficult for some new parents. It is something that can take time because it is a process and it cannot be forced immediately. If you are a parent for the first time, it is naturally going to take a bit longer for you to understand your baby and their needs.

Bonding with your baby will help you understand your baby’s needs and wants and you will soon be able to recognize a baby’s different cries. Infant consultant Elsa Chahin explains that not only does bonding benefit parents, but it also benefits your baby and gives them a sense of security and perhaps most importantly, it helps them to build their self-esteem.

For parents struggling to bond with their babies, touch is one of the best ways to bond with your newborn and it can be interpreted as the first communication between parent and child. For nine months the baby has been in the womb of the mother and it has felt her heart beat which is why they also respond very well to skin-to-skin contact. Babies love being touched on their stomachs, backs and even the soles of their feet. Even holding your baby close to your bare chest will provide them with more comfort. You can begin your bonding process with your child from the first day by cradling him and gently stroking them. Make sure both parents have a lot of skin-on-skin contact with your baby, as this will help your baby differentiate between their parents’ touches.

One of the most obvious ways for a mother to bond with her newborn baby is to breastfeed her child. Babies instinctively respond to their mothers’ smell and touch. Because your newborn baby spends a lot of time sleeping, it is important for you to spend more time with them when they are alert. Feeding your baby is a great time to make a good connection with your baby.

Babies become aware of your voice very early on and they love listening to human voices. Try speaking to your baby and have conversations with them. Singing or reading to your baby is also a great way to bond with them. It does not matter that the baby does not understand what is being said because just hearing familiar voices soothes the baby.  This will help develop a personal attachment with your child and it will also facilitate your baby’s development.

In the past, emphasis has been placed on the importance of mothers bonding with their babies; however, a similar emphasis is now being focused on fathers bonding with their newborn babies as well. The greatest opportunity for a father to bond with his baby is immediately after birth, which is why being present during labor not only gives the mother support, but it also allows the father to connect to the child. As a baby gets older, author Armin Brott explains that fathers need to spend more time with your children to help them build a strong bond with them. This can be as simple as taking the baby to the grocery store with you.

Trying to create a bond with your newborn baby is very important and it does influence future relationships, the baby’s self-esteem and their development. It takes time, but after a while it will come naturally.