Bonding for Baby and Dad

Jun 24, 2006 Teresa Simpson

Simple ways that dad can bond with baby every day.

It is a fact of life that the majority of the responsibility of caring for a baby often falls to the mother. This is particularly true for stay-at-home moms and breastfeeding moms. While this arrangement may be most convenient for everyone involved, it may result in a lack of bonding between father and baby. So how can you encourage bonding between the two? Here are a few easy ways that dad can spend quality time with baby.

• Feedings It goes without saying that breastfeeding is the best way you can bond with your baby. So what is dad to do? If you are not breastfeeding or if you supplement with bottles of expressed milk or formula, then he can recreate that bonding by bottle feeding the baby. Encourage him to cradle your child gently in his arms, simulating the breastfeeding position. From there he will have ideal eye contact with baby, maximizing the bonding experience.
• Baby Massage Everyone loves a massage. Why should your baby be any different? Babies thrive on loving contact and a gentle massage is a great way for dad to show baby how much he cares. Here is a step-by-step guide to help him on his way.
• Skin-to-Skin Contact Ask most veteran dads and they will tell you there is nothing in the world quite as sweet as falling asleep with their babies on their bare chests. It turns out that babies love it, too. Studies have shown that babies are stimulated by skin-to-skin contact and feel comforted by the touch. Besides napping chest to chest, dads can also achieve this contact by taking baths with baby. If he prefers, he can even don his swimming trunks to do so.
• Diaper Changes Sure, dad may have been away at work all day, but that's no reason why he can't dive into diaper duty at night! If he balks at the idea, reminding him that each diaper change is an opportunity for bonding, might push him into action. Suggest that he sing a song, or make silly faces, or simply talk to baby while changing the diaper. Baby will love the one-on-one attention and mom will love having a few less diapers to change each day.
• Carrier or Sling This one is about as effortless as it can get. Dad simply puts on a baby sling or front/back carrier and voila! Baby goes everywhere he does. Dad can watch the game, tinker in the garage, go for a walk, or (gasp!) do a little housework, all while maintaining contact with baby. It may not be the most meaningful quality time they will ever spend together, but they will both enjoy the close contact.

However dad chooses to bond with baby, it will certainly be time well spent. Just remember to try to stay out of their way. Dad will never learn to bond if you are hovering around, telling him how to do.

The copyright of the article Bonding for Baby and Dad in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Teresa Simpson. Permission to republish Bonding for Baby and Dad in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.