Daddy and Baby Bonding
The new arrival of your gorgeous new little baby is an exciting doorway to your new life. After you are home, and everyone has settled into as much of a routine that can be expected, Dad can sometimes be left feeling “What about me?” If you are like many households across the country, you may be staying home with your little one while Dad goes to work. He may begin to feel that he is losing precious time with your baby, and that he is more of a stranger to them than their Dad. This can be especially true if you are exclusively breastfeeding.
So how does Dad get the time he so rightly deserves? How does Daddy bond with your new baby when they always seem to be nursing, or he is always at work? There are a lot of things Dad can do, and hopefully after reading this he won’t be feeling left out in the cold anymore.
If you are not exclusively breastfeeding, meaning that your little bundle of love is only nursing from a bottle or sometimes being nursed from a bottle, Dad can take part in giving him a bottle. Before he leaves in the morning to work, why not let Dad spend a little quality time giving the first bottle of the day? The best way to do this is to have him cradle the baby in his arms as you would if you were breastfeeding them. He will be snuggled close, and your little one will be able to smell him and feel him breathe. He can gently talk to or sing to them and look into their eyes. This is excellent bonding time!
Join in for a bath in the evening, or on a day off take a nap together! It has been proven that babies love skin to skin contact and it makes them feel secure and happy. In the evening Dad can climb into the bathtub and have your little one get their bath while lying in dads lap. On an off day, Dad can lose the shirt and strip your baby down to a diaper (make sure it is warm in the room) and spend time cuddling or napping together. Spending time skin to skin very much enhances the bond between baby and parent.
Another thing Dad can do is to help with the diaper changing in the evenings or his off time. Sure, first thought that comes to his mind when you suggest this is probably going to be a negative one. He may think you are just trying to get out of a few stinky messes. However, explain to him that changing the diaper is taking care of him and can be perceived as loving to your little one. This is especially true if you find that your little one can’t stand to be wet or dirty. He can look into their eyes and talk to them while he is changing their diaper. Every moment counts!
No matter how much Dad has to leave the house to work, there is no reason that he and your little one can’t develop a special bond of their own. When Dad is home and wants to bond, let them have time alone. Try these methods, and always look for a little moments that they could be spending together.
