8 Little Ways to Bond with Your Newborn Baby:

Having a newborn in the house can be a beautiful yet daunting thing. You spend months preparing for the arrival of your little cherub, anticipating what parenthood will be like, but you don’t really know what it will be like until the moment your newborn enters the world. There is a natural and innate drive for parents to love and adore their newborn; nothing will perfectly explain it. But sometimes, we struggle to adapt.

Having a newborn is difficult because they cannot communicate with us, and most of the time, we don’t know why they’re upset or uncomfortable. Bonding with your newborn is important because you become a trusted person in their life, and it aids in development. If you are struggling to bond with your newborn, don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, keep reading. 

Here are 8 tips and tricks to try and bond with your angel.

1. Touch

Being able to connect with your newborn baby physically is one of the best ways to connect and bond with them, and skin-to-skin contact is one of the ways in which you can do so. There are endless benefits to skin-to-skin contact with your little one, such as boosted mental development, maintaining a healthy weight, improved immunity, and many, many more.

But you can bond with your baby through touch in many other ways too. Simply cuddling your newborn has the same effect. Babies pick up on the affection that their parents show them, and when you have a newborn who knows that they are loved and wanted, you are left with a happy baby, and this carries on into adulthood.

2. Responding

Another way in which you can easily bond with your newborn is by responding to their needs with love and warmth. When a baby cries, they are communicating with you, and if you are there for them when they need it, you become a trusted person in their life. That bond is created and will subconsciously stay in their mind for the rest of their life. Remember, you do not always need to have the answers to be a good parent. You and your baby can figure it out together as long as you respond to their cries.

3. Smile

Although your newborn does not understand anything you’re saying to them, they are extremely susceptible to the ‘vibes’ around them. Smiling at your newborn is another great way to bond with them, and one of these days, they will be able to smile back at you, and your heart will absolutely melt! Smiling at your newborn is another way of communicating to them that you are there for them and that you notice them. This will, in turn, have a calming effect on you, too.

4. Talk and Sing

As mentioned before, although newborns do not understand a word you’re saying, speaking to them often allows them to pick up on verbal cues. Babies are like sponges, and they soak up their surroundings. If you verbally communicate with them often, they are able to recognize your voice and will begin to find your voice soothing. You can also bond with your newborn by singing to them often. It's fun for you and for them!

Another reason why talking to your newborn often is great is that this will aid them in being able to pick up on language later on. They will become familiar with your intonations and will be able to communicate a lot easier.

5. Feeding

Connecting with your newborn through feeding time is another option when trying to bond with them, especially keeping eye contact with them while they are breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle. You can still express your love and adoration for your newborn by keeping eye contact.

Humans have the ability to connect and communicate in many different ways with one another, and giving your baby loving eyes will keep them calm and settled. Remember that you are literally their whole world, and they rely on you for every single little thing. Show them that you care through feeding time.

6. Diaper Changes

Diaper changes are something that all parents need to get used to because you seem to change diapers about a million times a day. Instead of seeing it as a chore, though, make this a special time with you and your newborn.

Again, you are showing your baby that you are there to take care of them by changing their diapers. You’ll probably find yourself having deep and meaningful chats with your cherub during this time, too. You can sing to them while changing their diaper or tell them about your day. Either way, they’re happy because they don’t need to lie around in a wet or soiled diaper.

7. Baby Massages

Who doesn’t love a massage? Giving your newborn massages is an extremely relaxing way to bond with them. Not only will your newborn feel extremely Zen, but they will also feel massive relief. Another great benefit of baby massages is that you stimulate all the tiny systems in their body, including the digestive system. Giving your baby a massage is a great trick if they are constipated, all while interacting with your little one.

8. Rest

Now, this is an extremely important tip. You need to rest as a new parent. If you are tired and stressed, and worn out, your little one will pick up on it, and they will begin to reciprocate these feelings back to you. You are absolutely allowed to take a nap when your newborn baby is napping - those dishes can wait. Looking after yourself is important because you will not be able to be there for your little one if you are running on fumes.

So, here are our tips for bonding with your newborn. Try not to overthink everything; you’re doing a great job. And remember, don’t be ashamed to ask those around you if you need help. Happy bonding!