Dr. Caron B. Goode
The bonding period for you and your baby begins long before birth. As your baby grows and develops within you, the special relationship between you and your child is already beginning to form. This special relationship, full of intense emotion, a deep sense of connection and a strong attachment is what drives a mother to feed her baby in the middle of the night or comfort her when she’s crying. This same bond waters the roots of trust and open communication with your baby and teaches him or her that she is loved, valued and respected.
While some new moms may feel instantly attached to their babies immediately following their birth, other moms need a bit more time to adjust to their new role and physically, emotionally and hormonally recover from their birthing experience.
Wherever you are on your bonding journey, it’s important to know that bonding is a process and not an end result. Each day you respond to your baby’s needs, gaze into her eyes, or shower her with your love and affection, your bond is growing deeper, wider and more intense.
As you learn to interact with your baby, use these 20 tips that can you grow your bond with your baby.
Bonding with Your Baby
1) Bond through Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding promotes closeness between a mother and baby. When you breastfeed your baby you’re guaranteed to hold your baby close 8 to 18 times per day. If you’re able, consider breastfeeding your baby.
2) Bond through Touch
Your baby will respond to the warmth of your touch. Skin to skin contact will also help your baby feel secure, stay warm and promote bonding. Lay your baby against your chest and cover your baby with a lightweight blanket.
3) Bond through Eye Contact
Your baby will gaze into your eyes for hours. Your newborn will typically see you best when your face is about one foot away from her body. When feeding your baby, make faces, smile and look into your baby’s eyes to promote bonding.
4) Bond through Sounds
Your baby loves your voice. Sing and talk to your baby often. Your voice is a familiar sound to your baby and your baby will feel comforted by hearing you sing or speak. Your baby will also be soothed if you lay him on your chest with his head near your heart. The familiar sound of your heartbeat will relax your baby.More on 20 Tips for Bonding with Your Baby
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First time parents-to-be often experience sticker shock the first time they browse for baby gear. When you start adding up the cost of furniture, car seats, strollers and the multitude of other items you want for your baby, it really adds up to a lot. There are several things you can do to save money while getting ready for baby to arrive.
Watch where you shop: Baby boutiques and specialty stores have adorable items for your new baby. You may get some of their catalogs in the mail during your pregnancy. The first thing you will notice is the high price tags for most of the gear sold in these stores. Overspending is a common mistake, especially with the first baby. You can often find comparable items at a discount store or on sale and save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. More on 7 Ways to Save on Baby Gear
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Watching your baby grow is one of the most amazing and exciting experiences of parenthood. Each infant is individual and will learn and grow at their own pace. With this in mind, there are some milestones to watch for through baby's first year. The milestones are a general guideline and aren't going to be exact for all children. Below is baby's first year broken down by month.
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If you love to travel like I do, you will want to include your baby in your trips. Travel gets a bit more complicated with a baby. However, you can have an amazing time with a little planning and preparation. Follow a few easy tips for smooth sailing.
Packing for Baby
It’s amazing how much is needed to take one little baby on a trip. Unless you will have access to a washing machine, bring more outfits than you need. Babies tend to get messy and wear more than one outfit each day. Pack clothing that is appropriate for the weather. If it is summer, bring along a jacket in case the nights get chilly. Include pajamas for night time. Don’t forget smaller items, such as socks, bibs and hats. More on Tips for Traveling with Your Baby
by Patricia Hughes
One piece of baby gear that all new parents will need is a car seat. You will be asked if you have a seat at the hospital and a nurse may check before you are discharged from the hospital. A car seat will protect your baby in the event of an accident and in most places, using a car seat is the law. You have two basic choices in seats for your new baby, an infant only seat or a convertible car seat. There are pros and cons to each type of seat.
Infant Seats are made to fit rear facing and are used for young babies. The seat part can be removed from the base and carried by the handle. This feature can be useful for moving a sleeping baby into the house. Some are made as part of a travel system and can fit inside the stroller. The biggest benefit of these seats is that newborn babies just fit in them better. Newborns, especially smaller babies, flop around in many convertible seats and just don’t fit well. More on Buying A Car Seat For Your Baby
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by Patricia Hughes
One of the most common worries among new breastfeeding mothers is having an adequate supply. Many of us, at one time or another will worry that we aren’t making enough milk. In most cases, our worries turn out to be unfounded. If you are concerned about making enough milk, there are some things you can do to increase the supply.
Sometimes we find we are worrying for nothing. Before you get too worried, be sure you really have a diminished supply. As the baby settles into a somewhat regular feeding schedule, your body will naturally adjust to that schedule. Your breasts will feel less full between feedings than they did when the baby was first born. Sometimes we mistake this for a reduced supply. More on Breastfeeding and Tips for Increasing Milk Supply
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