8 Ways to Bond with Your Newborn

Here at TheraB Medical, we understand the importance of bonding with your newborn, especially during early infancy. We also understand that there are a variety of reasons why you may feel unable to form a strong attachment with your baby right away. If that is the case, don’t worry! It might just take some time to strengthen the connection between the two of you and there are tons of different ways to do so.
                                                                                                           
Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin contact is known to have numerous benefits for both mother and baby. This contact causes the release of a hormone in the mother that lowers stress and promotes healing. In the baby, hormones are released that stabilize their heartbeat and breathing patterns. For both mother and baby, hormones are released that encourage a strong bond with one another. The first hours after birth have been shown to be especially crucial since a lack of skin-to-skin contact during this time can cause a reduction in the mother’s maternal behavior and in her affective response to her baby.

Breastfeeding
As a form of skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding also releases hormones in both mother and baby that encourage strong emotional bonding with one another. This also has an endless number of health benefits, including a stronger immune system, less diarrhea and constipation, fewer ear infections, fewer colds and respiratory illnesses, and reduced rates of SIDS.
 
Listen to Their Heartbeat
Listening to your baby’s heartbeat can bring you right back to the first time you heard this during pregnancy. This can serve as a little reminder of the journey that the two of you have been through together.
 
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal is a great way to reflect on how you feel and can be a chance to document your journey. Sometimes it can really put things into perspective when you take a look back on how much your life has changed in such a short period of time.

Close-up Face Time
Close-up face time is a great way to bond with your newborn, especially since early on they can only see about 8-15 inches away and prefer faces over objects. You can do this by smiling, cooing, singing, dancing, reading, or just being silly together!

Do an Activity Together
Doing an activity together can be a fun way to bond with your newborn. It helps if you have a sling or front carrier for your baby so they can be close to you. This activity could be something exciting like the zoo or something as simple as shopping for groceries or going to the park.
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Talk to Them
Talking, singing, and cooing with your baby can help begin the special bond and communication that the two of you have together. It also helps with early language development since your baby is listening to and absorbing all of the different sounds and tones you make.

Make Eye Contact
Making eye contact with your baby is another way to release hormones that increase bonding between the two of you. This is also thought to cause the adult involved and the infant’s brain waves to sync up while this connection is being made!

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are created for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider if you have any medical concerns.