The magical time your baby is born is unlike any other, and bonding is a special and unique way to start your journey as a mum. At the very start, all you want to do is feel as close as you can to the new love of your life, and thankfully, there are lots of little things you can do to increase those wonderful feelings. How and when you bond with your bundle of joy can be an individual experience - for some mamas the effect is instant. For others, that bond takes more time but grows stronger day-by-day. Either way, these ideas should help spread even more love between you both.
Keep the skin-to-skin contact going. You carried your baby in your belly for nine months, and chances are, you're both missing that constant physical connection. To keep it up, Kangaroo care, for example, is a sweet and practical activity since it helps regulate baby's breathing and heart rate - and keeps those cuddles going.
Eye contact during feeding time. Whether you're breastfeeding or using a bottle, the more you adoringly look into their eyes the better as it helps them remember you and strengthens that bond.
Give baby a massage. The benefits for baby are staggering, and the delighted baby noises mean you'll want to go on all day.
Read to them. Think your teeny tot is too young to reap the benefits of reading? Think again. A recent study in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics found that reading to babies in the NICU can help parents develop the same feelings of intimacy that parents of healthy newborns cultivate in the days and weeks after a baby's birth.
Keep talking to them. Babies love to hear the sound of your voice. It's the first step in teaching them about communication and even at that early stage, is helping them prepare for speech. Continually talking to them as you do activities gets them in tune with your voice; babies enjoy listening to your conversations, as well as your descriptions of their activities and environments.
Use a sling or carrier when out and about. Not only is baby physically close to you - taking in your sound and smell - but studies have shown that babywearing has many other benefits. It promotes attachment, is physically good for them and research suggests that babies held or carried in this way cry less.
