Some new dad’s find it hard to bond completely with their little one especially if they are nursing. Baby’s eat frequently and mom is the only one who can provide that nourishment in the beginning but soon, she can pump and share this responsibility with you. There are many other ways for dad’s to connect with their little one’s right from the start. Dive right in and start connecting!
Studies show that “fathers who are at their baby’s birth, and hold their little one shortly afterwards, have very similar feelings of attachment to those experienced by mothers for the first few weeks” (Greenberg and Morris 1974; Peterson, Mehl and Liederman 1979; Parke and Sawin 1976).
Once your baby is born, help him bond by:
- having skin to skin time right away and whenever he wants too
- bathing the baby and bathing with the baby
- burping the baby
- bottle feeding the baby
- taking part of the night shift (only wake mom up to feed or use a bottle)
- not always handing baby back to mom to soothe as soon as he/she starts crying, take a walk with them, sing to them, go outside, hold them in a different position. Try Dr. Harvey Karp’s 5 S’s.
- wearing the baby
- getting on the floor for tummy time
- taking the baby to the zoo or on a nature walk and teach them about animals and nature
- cuddle together for nap time
- trying some baby massage
- being silly with them, talking in funny voices and making funny faces (many times they will attempt to mimic your faces)
- playing an instrument for your baby, listening to music together, singing, dancing/swaying together to the music
- giving eskimo and butterfly kisses
- reading your favorite book, magazine or newspaper to the baby
- running errands with the baby (give mom a break)
- taking a sick/mental health day to play ALL day with mom and baby
- learning your baby’s body language (hungry, tired, bored, needs a diaper change, etc.)
- going to as many pediatric appointments and learning how your baby is growing and developing
- BEING SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR MOMMY!!!
“A man is not complete until he has seen the baby he has made”-Sammy Davis Jr.