It’s no secret that taking care of babies and infants is hard work that requires consistency and patience. In years gone by, fathers used to spend their days working full-time jobs to provide for their families, while mothers were expected to stay home to care for the kids. However, fathers should be just as active in their child’s life as their partner is, so learning how to do so can create positive outcomes.
Let’s review why fathers should learn to bond with their babies. There are areas to discuss regarding various childhood bonding recommendations and why bonding is necessary.
Reasons for Father-Baby Bonding
While it’s common for the mom to be there for her baby’s every beck and call, take steps to bond with your child from day one. Starting early will create a bond between you and your baby that will last a lifetime.
There are many benefits for children when fathers bond with their babies, including increased emotional security, confidence to explore their surroundings, and an enhanced ability to develop social connections with peers as they grow. Furthermore, children with nurturing, involved, and playful fathers develop better linguistic and cognitive capacities.
Recommendations for Fathers
Now that you know why father-baby bonding is vital to your child’s development, here are some tips to grow close to your baby. It may seem difficult initially, but from sharing feeding time to soothing upset moods, you'll become an expert in no time.
Share Nighttime Shifts
If you work a full-time job during the day away from home, taking the evenings to bond with your baby allows your partner to catch up on extra sleep. Allow yourself to relax and learn to become in tune with your child’s habits and routine, as it will help you understand what each cry and sound means. As such, it creates an opportunity of learning to comfort them.
Share Feeding Time
If there’s one way a father can grow closer with their child, it’s to share feeding time with them. There are many ways to go about it, such as bottle feeding during meals, sharing your solid foods with them, and preparing the baby bottle yourself. Your baby will become familiar with your presence as they learn to rely on you for reliance and safety.
Soothe Your Baby’s Cries
While an upset baby sometimes just wants their mom, take action to help soothe these emotional outbursts. Walking around with them in your arms, softly singing and speaking to them, and gently rocking them are a few methods of soothing their cries. It will help you grow closer to your baby and allow mom a chance to breathe and get some rest.
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