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6 ways fathers can quickly bond with their babies

Published

8 years ago

July 18, 2016

Time and biology certainly give new mothers a leg up on the baby bonding process, making fathers work that much harder to try and get equal time.

Mothers have the extra nine months before the child is even born where the bond is first created in the womb and cemented over time.

Then once the baby arrives, it’s the mother who is the primary caregiver, feedings, changing diapers, suffering through sleepless nights. A father pitching in on the ‘mommy’s domain’ is usually looked at with amusement and indulgence.

1. Be Tactile: Babies are comforted through the sense of touch. Pitching in during bath times, massaging the baby, and holding the baby against your chest will all succeed in fostering a warm, strong connection between the two of you.

2. Eye Contact: If you’ve been talking to the baby since he was still in the womb, he’ll be familiar with your voice, holding him in your arms so that you can look down at him while you speak and he can look up at you will help him associate that voice with your face and make him feel safe and loved.

3. Sharing Doctor Duty: Taking over some of the doctor’s visits from mommy will not only earn you points with her but will help you gain info on your baby’s overall health. It will give you the opportunity to help pitch in if the doctor offers any suggestions for any necessary treatments.

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4. Sharing: ‘Doody’ Duty: Parenting is a messy business and while most fathers feel it is the mother’s responsibility to take care of the less enjoyable end of baby care, they’re missing out. A crying, uncomfortable baby who is soothed by a clean diaper and clean clothes will associate that soothing, comfortable feeling with you.

5. Sing, Even If You Can’t Carry A Tune In A Bucket: Music is the universal calmer. A screaming baby will nine times out of ten quiet down if the radio is switched on to something soft and gentle (sorry, no AC/DC.) So if you want to bond with your child, hold them close and sing them a lullaby while rocking them, or look down at them in the crib and sing to your heart’s content.

6. Schedule Some Daddy Time: Despite the fact that the new mother will no doubt be frazzled and suffering from sleep deprivation, you might find some opposition when you put forth the initial idea for some alone time with the new baby.

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