Many people believe bonding with a baby happens automatically. Realistically, it can take time to bond. Do not worry about rushing back to work too soon. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, new parents may be eligible for 12 weeks of leave for the child’s care. You can work on the bond between you and your baby during this time.
When it comes to baby bonding, there are several ways to increase your connection.
Sleep in the same room with your baby
Try to share as much time with the baby as possible. In the hospital, ask for your baby to sleep in the same room. If you have a premature baby, your child may be in the NICU for some time. Ask the hospital staff for extra time to touch and hold them. Not only can this increase healing, but it can help the bond increase between you and the child. Just talking with babies can help with the bond.
Keep contact with your child
Your touch and voice is reassuring to your new baby. Spend as much time as you can with your baby, holding him or her and speaking softly. Gentle rocking and singing can comfort children. In addition, massage can also improve the relationship between parents and infants. For premature infants, it relieves stress and may be able to ease postpartum depression in mothers.
Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact can also help with newborns. The baby should have as much skin on skin contact as possible. This can help calm babies and can also improve breastfeeding.
Even if you have difficulty bonding after childbirth, you can increase your relationship with your child.