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Bonding with Your Newborn

Develop a Connection with Baby

By Lyn Mettler

Research shows that touching and physical contact with the baby is also very beneficial. A study at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami showed that massaging babies enhanced their ability to learn, and according to pediatrician Dr. William Sears, babies who are frequently carried in a sling cry less, learn more, organize their internal systems better and are smarter.

Sadlier frequently held her daughter in a carrier and experienced these benefits firsthand. "Once she was home, I often carried her in a Snugli while I did housework," she says. "She snoozed peacefully, listening to my heartbeat, and I accomplished things around the house."

Bonding may also be different for moms than it is for dads. Samberg says dads may have a more difficult time because they often feel left out, but she suggests that they start bonding right at birth by cutting the umbilical cord or holding the baby, particularly if the mom is unable to. Samberg also recommends that each parent choose different activities to do with the baby, so the baby begins to associate one activity with a particular parent.

"Each parent will find their own things that really work for them," she says. Whether it's reading Green Eggs and Ham, giving the baby a nightly massage or creating a special tradition to share, it's the quality of the experience that matters most. With a simple touch, word or shared gaze, parents can set their babies on the path toward a promising future.

Want to see more?

• The Wonders of Newborns: What Makes Babies So Unique and Special
• Difficulty Bonding: When You Don't Fall Instantly in Love with Your Newborn
• To Have and to Hold, and Hold and Hold: Can New Parents Hold Their Newborns Too Much?
• The First Weeks Home with Baby: Tips from Newborn Care to Caring for the New Mom

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