Can you baby

Most infants are ready to bond immediately. Parents, on the other hand, may have a mixture of feelings about it. Some parents feel an intense attachment within the first minutes or days after their baby's birth. For others, it may take a bit longer.

But bonding is a process, not something that takes place within minutes and not something that has to be limited to happening within a certain time period after birth. For many parents, bonding is a byproduct of everyday caregiving. You may not even know it's happening until you observe your baby's first smile and suddenly realize that you're filled with love and joy. When you're a new parent, it often takes a while to understand your newborn and all the ways you can interact:.

Bonding with your baby is probably one of the most pleasurable aspects of infant care. You can begin by cradling your baby and gently rocking or stroking him or her. If you and your partner both hold and touch your infant frequently, your little one will soon come to know the difference between your touches.

Both of you can also take the opportunity to be "skin to skin" with your newborn by holding him or her against your own skin when feeding or cradling. Babies, especially premature babies and those with medical problems, may respond to infant massage. Because babies aren't as strong as adults, you'll need to massage your baby very gently. Before trying out infant massage, be sure to educate yourself on proper techniques by checking out the many books, videos, and websites on the subject.

You can also contact your local hospital to find out if there are classes in infant massage in your area. Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding are both natural times for bonding. Infants respond to the smell and touch of their mothers, as well as the responsiveness of the parents to their needs. In an uncomplicated birth, caregivers try to take advantage of the infant's alert period immediately after birth and encourage feeding and holding of the baby.

However, this isn't always possible and, though ideal, immediate contact isn't necessary for the future bonding of the child and parent. Adoptive parents may be concerned about bonding with their baby. Although it might happen sooner for some than others, adopted babies and their parents can bond just as well as biological parents and their children. Men these days spend more time with their infants than dads of past generations did.

Although dads frequently yearn for closer contact with their babies, bonding frequently occurs on a different timetable, partially because they don't have the early contact of breastfeeding that many moms have.

But dads should realize, early on, that bonding with their child isn't a matter of being another mom. In many cases, dads share special activities with their infants. And both parents benefit greatly when they can support and encourage one another. Of course, it's easier to bond with your baby if the people around you are supportive and help you develop confidence in your parenting abilities. That's a big green car. The same goes for familiar books.

This helps explain why, starting at about 18 months, children may ask for the same book over and over and over -- and why they won't let you change your reading performance by a single "meow" or "vroom. When we asked our readers to tell us their baby's favorite book, the titles that got the most mentions weren't surprising: Goodnight Moon and anything by Dr.

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others. I work on the road and my wife is pregnant. Will reading to my baby via skype have the same benefits as reading to the baby in person?

By Melissa Balmain September 08, Save Pin FB More. The Benefits of Reading Reading is an addiction that parents should encourage well before their baby's first birthday. With that in mind, here's an age-by-age guide to getting your kids hooked on books.

Here are some other raved-about books that you might not have heard of yet:. I don't know if she likes the mouse or the colors, but it's already completely worn out!

She even helps us turn the pages. He finds it so exciting because it has a cute little finger puppet attached. Here's some children's books that parents seem to adore for themselves! Munsch "It's the most heartwarming book I've ever read. By Melissa Balmain. Comments 1. And the expectations of new grandparents, competitive siblings, or friends can also make the homecoming stressful.

Your baby's first extended crying period at home will be difficult. Remember: young babies typically cry for 1 to 5 hours within a hour period, and can't always be calmed. Crying usually decreases gradually after the first several weeks. Although it may seem impossible now, in a few months it will be difficult to recall your baby's seemingly endless crying episodes. Introducing your baby to others at home can be challenging. If you have other kids, be sure to spend some quality time with each of them.

Some parents bring home gifts from the new baby for big brothers and sisters. At first, you can expect some jealousy, especially if the main focus of your attention for several years suddenly has new competition. Encourage siblings to "help" you care for this newest family member.

If you have a pet, ask your partner to bring home a blanket with the baby's scent on it and place it near the pet — even before leaving the hospital. Then, when you come home, the pet will already be somewhat familiar with the baby. But remember to never leave pets alone with newborns. Ask your partner to be the gatekeeper for visitors and to limit the number of guests at first.

You'll be glad later on if you take some time now to rest and become comfortable with your new situation. Although babies typically aren't shy around strangers for the first 3 months or so, they may become overstimulated and tired if too many people are around. If you have voice mail or a telephone answering machine, consider changing your message to give the vital statistics of your new arrival.

You might say something like: "Our newest family member has arrived. Her name is Julia Marie; she was born on Tuesday, and weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces. We're all fine and adjusting to our new life. If you'd like us to call you back when it's convenient, please leave your name and number. Don't be shy about accepting visitors slowly.

Ask anyone who's ill to wait until they're feeling well and no longer contagious before they visit. You shouldn't hesitate to ask visitors to wash their hands before holding your baby because a newborn baby's immune system is not fully developed.

They'd rather have you call than worry about something needlessly. If you wonder whether you should call the doctor's office, do it, especially if you see something unexpected or different that concerns you. Call if you see any of these signs:. If your concern is urgent, call your doctor and take your child to the emergency room.

Remember, with young infants, minor conditions can sometimes change quickly. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Leaving the Hospital Moms-to-be sometimes pack clothes for the trip home before even going to the hospital — or they may wait to see what the weather brings and have their partner bring clothing for both themselves and the baby.