Bond With Your Baby Ever notice how your baby’s beautiful face—those chubby cheeks and sparkly eyes and that mischievous smile—is somehow more fascinating to watch than even the most Oscar-winning blockbuster? That’s no coincidence. The two of you are hardwired to thoroughly enjoy each other’s company. And if you follow your instincts and develop a great rapport now, you could set your baby up for a lifetime of stellar relationships.
One study found that securely attached babies who turned to their parents for comfort when exploring an unfamiliar place at 12 months old were more likely to come out of an argument in their early 20s still feeling connected to their partner. “The results of this study suggest that our ability to love, trust, and resolve conflict stems in part from how we’re treated as infants,” says study author Jeff Simpson, Ph.D., adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota.
Loving your little one can help keep him healthier, too. A study in Psychological Science reveals that attentive parents may buffer kids against chronic stress. This is the root of sleep disorders, digestive problems, and memory impairment, not to mention depression and obesity.
Ways to Bond with Your Baby
Bonding with your sweetie is mostly instinctual. “Attachment isn’t about acting the ‘right’ way,” says Daniel Messinger, Ph.D., a child psychology professor at the University of Miami. “It’s really about watching your baby and responding sensitively.” So if you’re both having fun, you’re doing it right! Need a few pointers? Read on for 30 ways to bond with your baby.
1. Gaze into your baby’s eyes during feedings
It’s not just about nutrition—when your little one cuddles up next to you to bottle feed or nurse, she hears your heartbeat, smells your scent, and feels comforted by skin-to-skin contact. Be sure to look into your baby’s eyes during feedings. Keeping eye contact will help your baby remember who you are and what you mean to her.
2. Give your baby a massage
The benefits of massage for babies are quite staggering, and you will literally feel like a superhero when that little person is giggling and cooing with delight.
3. Put away your phone
Currently, your family, friends, and colleagues understand if it takes you hours to answer a text. So milk it for all it’s worth and give all that extra time to your little one.
4. Gaze in the mirror together
Your baby still may not have grasped the idea of their own reflection, and that’s perfectly fine. Babies love looking at the faces of human beings, so this is a great way for them to get close-up and personal with their very own.
5. Listen to their heartbeat
Remember how thrilled you were to hear that sweet sound during your sonograms? It can now be music to your ears whenever you want.
6. Sleep when your baby sleeps
Don’t—we repeat, don’t—feel guilty for hitting the sack at 7 p.m. A well-rested parent is a happy parent, and your baby will benefit most from that.
7. Do something sweet for your partner
Whether you realize it or not, your baby is picking up on the bond their parents share. Strengthen it by making a special dinner or taking the time to watch a movie together…just like old times!
8. Don’t sweat the milestones
It’s easy to scour the internet for when some things are going to happen, but all babies are developed at their own pace. Obviously, always reach out to a person in a trusted profession with any questions or concerns that arise.
9. Go skin to skin
Whether you carry your baby physically or not, physical connection is essential in a baby’s development. Kangaroo care—fancy wording for just being skin to skin—is a sweet—and practical—activity because it regulates the breathing and heart rate of the baby.
10. Respond to your baby when they cry
Especially for the first three months of their life, your baby needs to know you’re there for them—and picking them up when they cry helps build that trust. Trust us, you won’t be spoiling them, and sleep training time will come if you choose to do that.
11. Become a swaddling superhero
Proper swaddling can equal better sleep for the baby—and you. Need we say more?
12. Drink in their smell
Unfortunately for all of us, nobody’s yet been able to bottle that smell, so since you have the good stuff right under your nose, sniff away. You will find that your little one’s scent smells even more intoxicating than any other baby’s.
13. Spend extra time in the glider
So your baby just fell asleep and you’re pretty sure you can use your ninja moves to transfer them to the bassinet without waking them up. But before you set them down, you can just rock back and forth together in the quiet, dark room. Any small moments can be ones of bonding!
14. Dress up
Let’s be real: doesn’t your heart sort of melt a little when you put your baby in a new outfit? No one is going to judge you for having a baby fashion show for your eyes only!
15. Keep a journal
Your baby’s first year is going to fly by, so memorialize all the sweet moments you’re spending together.
16. Have a stuffed animal meet and greet
It’s great fun to watch your baby touch, smell, and even taste their little furry friends. Note how they pick a favorite — you’ll eventually want to have that one on hand at bedtime.
17. Read aloud to your baby
It’s never too early to tap into your baby’s inner bookworm! Bonus points if you can do a different voice for each character.
18. Breathe through a crying fit
Bond With Your Baby
All babies cry. But when you get uptight and frustrated, your baby will really wail. Remind yourself even adults get upset; babies just need help coping.
19. Establish a routine
Babies are creatures of habit, so if you stick to some kind of program, your little one will feel more at ease. It will also help your baby realize that you are the one making all that magic happen as you are anticipating their feeding needs.
20. Take a parent-baby date
Feeling adventurous? Hit up the zoo! Not so adventurous? The coffee shop around the corner works. Getting out with a baby will remind you that the world is still spinning outside your little cocoon.
21. Devise a pet name
You’re the parent, so you can call your baby anything you want. Plus, the nickname you give will be like a little secret only you two share.
22. Create a playlist and unleash your inner Beyonce
Take five of your favorite jams, play ’em for a baby on repeat, and have yourself a sing-along party. You’ll get a rise out of it when they start to bob along eventually, and it’s always good for your baby to hear your voice.
23. Break out your old baby pictures
Maybe your baby has your eyes, your smile, or your ringlets. Whatever resemblance you find will make you feel instantly connected.
24. Relish trying new foods
When it’s time to start solids (around 6 months), don’t worry about the mess. Instead, focus on your baby’s sweet enjoyment and exploration of the new tastes, textures, and smells they’re being exposed to.
25. Get your silly on
Have a blast wiggling your eyebrows and sticking out your tongue, and prepare for your heart to explode when you finally get your baby to smile.
26. Leave the mess
Every day you’ll have a choice: Clean up the house or snuggle with your baby on the couch. We say snuggle time is more important than a clean house!
Also Read : What Is Lip Tie in Babies?
27. Talk to your baby
Talk to your little one. The first few days of parenthood can be pretty lonely, so go ahead and talk it all out with your new little BFF. Chances are, they’ll love the sound of your voice, and you’ll feel like a weight was lifted. Can you say win-win?
28. Take pleasure in the poop
Yeah, we said it. The diaper change gets a bad rap, but you can make it fun by singing a happy song while you wipe, marveling at how cute your baby’s bottom is, or coming up with a million different words for poop.
29. Plant a smooch on those cute baby lips
In a few years, your child may well be going to wipe off your smooches and give you “that look.” But right now? They’re adorably helpless, so pucker up!
What If You Don’t Fall in Love at First Sight?
What if you gaze upon this red-faced, wrinkled little stranger—who’s bawling at the top of their lungs, to boot—and don’t feel overcome with love? Don’t panic, says Nancy Mork, associate director at the Erikson Institute Fussy Baby Network in Chicago. That’s a totally normal reaction. “So many parents have this expectation that they will instantly fall in love with their baby,” she says. “If that doesn’t happen, they feel they’ve failed.”
However many parents feel emotionally underwhelmed during the early newborn days. “Many parents struggle to relate to a newborn who can barely make eye contact, let alone communicate in a way to build a close relationship,” says Chuck Schaeffer, Ph.D., a New York City-based reproductive psychologist and fatherhood expert.
Be rest assured: There’s no one right way to bond with your baby. “As long as you’re having fun and feeling happy around your kid, they will feel happy and safe, and bonding will naturally occur.”
