"Itâs no secret that newborns sleep a lot. And when theyâre not sleeping, theyâre usually eating or itâs time for a diaper change. That means the times we as parents have with them while theyâre awake, AKA âwake windows,â offer great bonding opportunities between babies and their caregivers.
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What may not be as obvious is the significant effects that bonding with their caregiver has on babies. Fostering a safe and healthy attachment allows babies to grow into adults who enter into healthy relationships and are less likely to experience mental health concerns. The best part? Bonding with baby can be enjoyable for both them and their caregivers.
While playing with older kids may come more naturally as they can speak about what they want to do and openly use their imagination, there are plenty of creative ways to bond with our newborns as well. The next time we find ourselves in a wake window and remember itâs a perfect bonding opportunity, refer back to this list of five of our favorite ways to bond with baby.
1. Use High Contrast Flash Cards
Newborns are experiencing so much at any given momentânew sights, new sounds, and new ways of development going on at all times. Itâs our job as parents to do as much as we can to help them develop in productive ways physically, mentally, and emotionally. The use of high contrast flash cards can be a great way to do just that as they help develop concentration, focus, and the eye muscles. These visually stimulating cards will capture babyâs interest and easily keep them entertained during wake windows.
2. âBaby Bootcampâ
The first months of life are filled with several milestones as babies will be in the beginning stages of developing their motor skills. As parents, we can help with this development by helping our babies move and stretch in new waysââbaby bootcamp,â if you will. Lay baby on their back and practice bicycle kicks with their legs, guide them through the âhappy babyâ yoga pose, or head to TikTok or YouTube university where you can find videos from licensed therapists and pediatric chiropractors to follow along with.
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3. Sing to Baby
While itâs true, we canât all be Taylor Swift, weâre all rockstars in our babiesâ eyes. Take the time during wake windows to bond with baby by singing to them. Outside of the shower, this is the perfect time to raise our voices as baby will love to hear a voice they recognize and singing is sure to put a smile on their face. Choose from educational songs like the âABCâs,â or simply have fun with it and choose whatever sparks joy for baby (think Rachel and Ross singing âBaby Got Backâ to Emma on Friends).
4. âWearâ Them While Doing Tasks
Another great way to bond with baby is by wearing them on our chest while we complete our daily tasks or go for a walk. Not only will bonding occur by having them physically close to us, it will also likely be very soothing for babies as the movement will replicate being in the womb. To take it a step farther, we can narrate our actions, making this a great opportunity to build language development and introduce vocabulary.
5. Make Tummy Time Even Better
Weâve heard it before and weâll hear it againâtummy time is important for babyâs development. âTummy timeâ involves laying babies on their stomach while theyâre awake for brief periods of time, which helps strengthen neck and shoulder muscles. Tummy time can be a great bonding experience in a number of ways. While we supervise, we can narrate what theyâre doing and talk them through the experiences. We can even get on the floor and use a mirror to play with them during tummy time so they can explore their reflection.
If your baby hates tummy time, try having them do tummy time on your chestâthis will be very soothing for babies, and if they happen to fall asleep on us, well, then itâs snuggle time.
