In the first moments, your new little one seems more like an alien than a bundle of joy, but after a bath for baby and a few deep breaths for the new parents, your little angel looks their part. Their little red face is all scrunched up, and the sounds that voice from their puckered little mouth are the most precious notes you could ever hope for. You ache any time the nurses take them for tests, and you deny offers from well meaning friends and family who offer to hold them while you get some sleep. All you want to do is be with your new baby, and you'll forego food, water and sleep to do just that! The Bonds of Love
There is no gift as precious as a new baby and there is nothing as sacred as the bond between a parent and a child. Bonding, or attachment, is the sense of connection between parents and infants that forms the foundation of the parent-child relationship. Bonding begins between a mother and a baby in utero and continues to grow after the baby is born and throughout childhood.
Studies have proven that babies can hear, feel and experience emotions long before they are born. Therefore, it is important for parents to talk, read, and sing to their unborn baby thus creating the initial bond between parent and child.
The first few moments, or even weeks, after the birth of a new baby may surprise you. The process of bonding with your new baby may or may not happen immediately. Each person’s reaction to their new baby is unique and different.
If you think that you will fall in love with your baby right after the birth, you may be disappointed. It may take time and usually love takes days and weeks to develop as you get to know each other. However, you may feel an extreme powerful rush of feelings for your newborn after the birth.
After 9 months of living in a nice, warm, secure environment which the baby could hear the mother’s heartbeat, suddenly, at birth, the baby is rushed out into the cold environment. It is very important that the baby feels it’s mother’s skin next to him/her as soon as possible. This will keep the baby warm and provide a sense of security for the baby. It is equally important that the father is present at the birth of the baby and is able to hold the baby after birth.
However, bonding right after birth is not always possible and doesn’t always happen immediately. Mothers who can’t have immediate, close contact with their babies can still bond very well with them later on.
For your baby, the bond may not be instant and is formed gradually and over time. A secure attachment develops from nurturing and responsive attention. Responding to your baby’s needs in a loving manner will help him/her develop a strong sense of trust in you, himself and it’s environment.
There are many other ways that will develop and strengthen the bond between parent and child, such as:
Interact with your baby face-to-face.
Lovingly touch your baby.
Provide skin-to-skin contact.
Talk to your baby.
Sing to your baby.
Read to your baby.
Play music and gently dance with your baby around the room.
Smile at your baby.
Bonding with your infant is a very important step in a parent-child relationship. From the time you hear that you have been blessed with the conception of your new baby, start creating the bonds of love that will last throughout a lifetime.
Cuddles ‘n Gifts has many wonderful baby gift baskets filled with books and toys that will provide a good start to the bonding process of parent and child.
