Many fathers feel that they are not needed or left out of the relationship when they see how close Mom and Baby are – especially when Mom is breastfeeding. It takes time and effort for fathers to find ways to bond with their new baby in the early months
Here are 8 suggested tips for bonding—without using a bottle or feeding the baby:
- Wear the baby (sling, carrier, wrap), allowing the baby to feel, smell, and see Daddy.
- Bathe the baby, either in a small tub or in a large tub with Baby and Dad in skin-to-skin care.
- Get on the floor with Baby, see the world from his location, and talk, hold, tickle, sing, read, and touch him.
- Changing diapers will keep Dad and Baby close to each other, allowing for reassurance and reassurance from dad to baby.
- Take the baby out of the house, solo! This one-on-one opportunity helps Dad build his own relationship with Baby, allowing him to learn about his baby’s needs and how to meet them without using a bottle.
- Read to the baby. It can start even before birth. Reading is a brain-building behavior and Baby loves hearing Daddy’s voice.
- Massage the baby. Have Dad take an infant massage class and learn how to gently soothe, hold, and massage his baby safely and effectively.
- Sing baby, whether you can carry a tune or not! And if you play an instrument, add that to the harem.
- Burp the baby after each feeding. Dads seem to have a special bond when it comes to burping; I’ve seen it over and over again over the past 20+ years!
- Put the baby in his own bed after Mom finishes feeding in the middle of the night.
- Take pictures/videos of Baby for Mom and/or Dad when away from baby.
- Take advantage of any parental leave offered at work and plan to spend that time alone with Mom and Baby, increasing the bonding and fun of those early weeks.
Can you add to this list? Many new fathers are very creative in finding opportunities for bonding with their children. One young man, I remember, was so proud that he found “his” way… he put his son safely in a sling on his body, went out, and shot his son (safely, of course)! What a special touch.
This article is provided by WomenDeserveBetter.com
