Nursing is just one of the many ways new parents can bond with their new baby. Dads can get involved with nursing too by feeding bottles of breast milk or formula. Baby can be cradled in close for a bottle feed allowing bonding to occur naturally. When nursing a baby their eyes at the perfect distance for seeing mothers face, this aids bonding as does being close to the smell of Mum. Bonding is a unique process that can happen instantly for some and may take time for others. Factors that can influence bonding can include whether the birth was easy or traumatic, whether baby was able to have skin to skin contact soon after birth and whether or not the initial feeds of colostrums went well.
Your newborn baby will be familiar with mum's heartbeat and to some extent dad's too, so feeding baby on close allows them to hear your heartbeat and be comforted. Even if your baby is in intensive care you can still form a strong bond through nursing by expressing milk and stroking your baby and talking in a soothing voice as they will be familiar with your voices.
Hormones can help a mother bond with her new baby as the mother is filled with love for her child. Sometimes, hormones go a bit astray and the mother can be affected by postnatal depression, possibly making bonding more of a challenge.
The ways babies bond:
* Touch (skin-to-skin contact)
* Eye-to-eye contact
* Can follow moving objects with their eyes
* Imitate facial expressions and gestures
* Prefer human voices
Nursing a baby fulfills although the criteria for how a baby bonds in one activity. You can hold baby close allowing for skin to skin contact providing warmth and comfort. Babies' eyes will eventually open whilst they feed thus allowing for eye-to-eye contact and they are the perfect distance away from you at the breast. If you are wearing a necklace or bright patterned top - baby will delight in playing with (make sure it is safe) or staring at your bright clothing. When you smile at them - they will eventually smile back. Whilst nursing it is possible to smile at your baby and talk to them in a soothing voice. All of these aspects will assist in the mothers' ability to bond with her child whilst nursing.
Other ways to bond with baby other than nursing:
* feeding e.g. middle-of-the-night bottle feed and nappy change
* reading or singing
* sharing a bath
* mirroring movements
* mimicking baby's cooing and other vocalizations - the first efforts at communication
* using a front baby carrier
* letting baby feel the different textures of dad's face especially fun if he has facial hair.
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