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Encouraging Individuality
Why You Each Need Time Alone with Baby
By Gina Roberts-Grey
Promote diversity and give him the comfort to develop as an individual. If he shows an interest in something you're passionate about, take advantage of that opportunity. Moms who garden can make "mud pies" with their sons, and dads who love cars can take their daughters to walk around an antique car show. Avid anglers like Bill Ryan of Crystal Lake, Ill., can take their daughters along to enjoy the fresh air and hear Dad's fish tales. "I packed them up in their strollers and took both of our girls for afternoon fishing trips," Ryan says.
Create periods for each of you to spend time one-on-one with your baby during everyday routines. Take turns giving him a bath, changing diapers or getting him ready for naps and bedtime.
Try to balance participating in activities such as reading to him, taking walks and attending play groups or classes to include time for each of you. Busy dads can take their babies on a walk around the block alone and then return home to pick up Mommy and the family dog to explore the other half of the neighborhood. Give each other one afternoon a month "off" to spend quietly while the other parent takes Baby on an adventure. Setting up the playpen in the local park, taking your baby to the library or walking around the mall gives you both the chance to get to know each other. He'll become used to both parents feeding and changing him and know both of you are equal caregivers.
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