One of the most important steps in newborn care is learning to bond with your baby. While it sounds like a natural process, there are steps that can help to make this easier. Bonding is that link between the baby and the parents, and is in fact just a continuation of a process that started during pregnancy.
Helping the Bonding Process
This important step in building emotional and physical trust between babies and parents is important to the child’s health. Useful tips include:
Touching
This is a vital step in the bonding process between baby and parent. Gently stroke and caress your baby as you interact with him or her. Both parents should also endeavor to have skin to skin contact while feeding the baby as this helps strengthen the bonding process. This has also been shown to be beneficial to premature babies.
Face to Face Interaction
Play with your baby by bringing your face close to him or her. Change your expressions as you smile and giggle with the baby. Gaze at them and touch them with your face as you help them to recognize your features.
Talking
Talking to your baby helps to develop a relationship. Babies already know the parents’ voices from their time in the womb. They love sounds so cooing or singing lullabies, or reading to the baby will also help to develop a strong parent-child bond.
Feeding
During feedings, parents can combine touch and talking as they continue to bond with the new baby. Even if the baby is breastfed, the father can play a role as he can gently stroke the baby’s hands and feet. With bottle-fed babies, both parents can take turns.
When the bonding process is difficult for the mother it could be a sign that something is wrong. This can point to a case of postpartum depression. If this is the case, treatment will be needed.