Creating a connection Building strong bonds
The bond between you
and your child can start before birth, with a rush as your baby is born,
or more slowly over the first year as you get to know each other. This
relationship will form the basis for her sense of security, give her the
confidence to explore her world, and guide how she relates to other
people throughout her life.
Stay close
Keep
your baby with you or your partner as much as you can after she’s born.
Resist sending her away to the nursery unless there is a medical reason
to do so.
The power of touch
At first
it may seem your newborn is so small and vulnerable that she might
break, but in reality she needs you to be in physical contact with her
most of her waking hours. The more you touch, stroke, and get used to
handling her, the more confident you’ll become.
Communicate
Look into
her eyes, smile, talk softly, then wait to see how she responds. You’ll
be rewarded as she turns toward your voice. Don’t worry if she doesn’t
seem to focus clearly on you—her eye muscles are still developing.
Hold her with confidence
Your
newborn has been held securely inside you for nine months and can find
the open space and lack of enclosure a shock at birth. Help her feel
secure by holding her close, skin to skin if you can. Try swaddling:
This recreates the sensations your baby experienced in the womb. Make
sure that she doesn’t overheat if you swaddle her.
Tune in
Learn
your baby’s habits, likes, and dislikes through observing her every
move. You’ll soon be aware of how she communicates, what soothes her,
the times of day she’s ready to play, and when she’s at her crankiest.
Securely held
When your baby snuggles into your body and you hold her firmly against you, she feels safe and protected.
Give and receive
Simple exchanges of physical affection are ways to express your growing relationship with your baby.
Precious moments
The more time you spend with your baby, the closer your bond will be. Make every minute count.
