BONDS that tie

Nuturing the BOND

1) Touching and talking to your baby
Even if you had zero opportunity to bond with your baby in the hospital, you can start doing so as soon as you get home, and touch is the ideal way to begin. This should come as no surprise, as your skin largest organ, and body contact is an important source of heat. Also remember to give your baby massages. Besides helping you connect with your child, it also has been shown to increase weight gain and improve development in premature infants.

2) Maintain eye contact
We all know what our eyes can convey without words, so you can imagine the impact it has on your newborn. Newborn babies see best about a foot away from their bodies, what we call the breastfeeding distance. It is not unusual for a baby to look at a human face for hours, particularly the eyes. You can also use facial expression as a means of bonding with your baby.

3) Respond to his cries
Crying is one of your child's few means of communication. It is thus important to go to your child when he cries for comfort and hold him. Ignore the advice of those who tell you to let your baby 'cry it out'. Your responsiveness will not spoil him. In fact, every time you respond to your crying infant, you are helping to forge a trusting relationship.

4) From womb mate to room mate
making visual, tactile and auditory connection with your newborn may make you feel that you hdont want to release this little person that you've laboured so hard to bring into the world, into the nursery - and you don' have to. Feel free to room in with your baby. Relish the quiet moments you have with your baby deep into the night. It will not remain this way for long. Your peaceful, perfect baby will change daily and a strong bond between the two of you will form a wonderful foundation to face life's challenges into toddlerhood and beyond.

5) Breastfeeding right after birth
The benefits of breastfeeding are countless for both mum and baby. Nipple stimulation releases the hormone oxytocin and stimulates the releases of prolactin, the hormone that helps your mothering abilities kick right in. Besides helping with bonding, this nutritious diet makes the baby grow healthier and stronger, and it also helps the mother become healthier and avoid certain disease.

*Context taken from Baby Plus