Bonding and attachment to his caregivers allows your child to feel secure which, in turn, enables him to develop into a confident and independent person. He’s half your DNA, so shouldn’t the bonding be happening by default?
The answer is yes and no.
Bonding’s a process that needs to be worked at, but it’s not hard. Here are 10 ways to bond with your baby from a new book called *Being a Great Dad **for Dummies*, by Stefan Korn, Scott Lancaster and Eric oooij :
Be 100% committed. Make a point of totally committing yourself mentally to looking after your little one, not just on a day-to-day basis, but for life. Becoming a father is like getting married – you’re in this thing for better or worse, in sickness and in health. But there’s one big difference – if things don’t work out, there’s no divorce – your child will be your child forever. And since this is your child’s one shot at life, give your little one the best shot you can.
Be at the birth. You not only get to see the amazing process of birth, but you get to take part! And while oum is having a rest and some attention from the midwife, you’ll have a chance to get to check out your precious new parcel in detail.
Up close and personal. There is no better way to be close to your baby than skin-to-skin, so whip off that shirt and have a wee cuddle. Kangaroo care, as skin-to-skin contact is sometimes known, is a technique used in the care of premature babies to facilitate better breastfeeding, temperature control, bonding and attachment. But your baby doesn’t have to be premature to benefit.
Ready, set… read! Reading to your baby from day one not only encourages closeness, it gives him a chance to see colours and shapes and listen to your voice. Being read to also helps with language development, which is starting to happen from day one. Before he can speak, he’ll be learning through you about the colours, shapes, animals and emotions that he sees on the pages in front of him.
Tummy time. This is an important technique in kick-starting your child’s development. Lay your baby on his tummy (he’ll have his knees curled under him to start with) and encourage him to lift his head. This gets him to use his neck and upper-body muscles as well as encouraging him to look ahead and focus on objects.
Be hands-on – literally. Baby massage is easy to learn and both you and your newborn will love it.
Be the paparazzi. Put photos on your phone, your work computer, your desk and in your wallet. Immerse yourself in the world of your little one. If you work outside the home, photos can be a great way to remember during the day that you’re a dad now and it means you’ll look forward to going home to check on your baby.
Get creative. Remember that beloved toy truck your granddad carved for you – the one that’s gathering dust in your spare room? Create a future heirloom now by making a mobile, some wooden toys or decorations like murals for your baby’s room. You’ll get untold pleasure from seeing your child using and enjoying whatever you create or falling in love with a picture you’ve painted for him.
You would never have seen a man pushing a buggy or stroller when we were kids, but now pushing a pram is totally the “in” thing. As gadget freaks, who doesn’t want to show off their buggy? In the early weeks, have your child facing towards you so he can make out your familiar face and feel comforted by your presence.
Get your hands dirty. Yep, you’re going to have to change some nappies. oost dads don’t exactly relish the idea of dealing with poos and wees several times a day. Neither do mums. If you can’t handle a simple nappy change, you may have to hand in your “man card” for real! But there are also fringe benefits. The distance between you and your little tyke when you change a nappy is just perfect for singing and talking together. oany a new dad has seen his baby’s first smile while changing a nappy.
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