Nine months of carrying her growing child inside her, the hormones that flood with a sense of love , connectedness and the intimacy of breastfeeding and physical nurture after birth all work together to forge an unshakeable bond between mom and baby. Not so for dad! His first tangible experience of his child is when a crying, squirming his arms. Some dads will feel an instant rush of love from the first moment they hold their newborn in their arms, while others will take a little more time to feel fully connected. We share some tips great ways to start dad and baby bonding.
1.Sᴋɪɴ-ᴛᴏ-sᴋɪɴ contact
Babies thrive on skin-to skin contact, also known as kangaroo care. They love nothing more than being snuggled against your bare skin and feeling your heartbeat. A 2007 study found that newborns who were immediately placed on a dad’s bare chest after delivery stopped crying, calmed down and were able to fall asleep more quickly than those that were placed directly in a cot. So take time each day to cuddle your baby close to your bare chest. It will feel as amazing for you as it does for your baby.
2.Soothe away the tears
When your baby cries, take your at trying to comfort them. Gently rocking. Speak or sing softly and show patience and perseverance. A crying baby can be very trying but you will also feel a great sense of peace when your little one finally quiets or goes to sleep against your .Comforting children is so important.
3.Singing and talk to baby
Babies respond really well to music so another great way to bond is to sing to them. It doesn’t really matter what you say – stories, random chatter or how your day went are all viable topics. The important thing is letting your baby hear your voice, cradling it in your arms. Bedtime stories are definitely best. It’s a great way for dad and baby to bond.
4.Walking
Whether you walk or bop your baby round the living room, or head out on special Daddy walks with the sling, you will feel closer to your newborn. They in turn will feel safe and secure in Daddy’s arms.
5.Playtime with baby
Many dads excel at pulling funny faces and babies will also start responding to games like ‘peek-a-boo’ from about 6 months old. New dads will often be frightened ᴏf hurting their babies. It’s important to hold them safely in a way that’s appropriate for their age and developmental stage but you’ll soon learn that they’re not as fragile as you might think.
