Austin Area Birthing Center dads learn lots of father baby bonding techniques in our Baby Love for Dads Class, but that hour of infant massage, communal support and expert advice goes by quickly, with a lot of information to retain. Fathers sometimes develop bonds with their baby more slowly than mothers do, and that’s okay! In order to help our dads show their babies just how much they love them, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite father baby bonding techniques right here, so you can consult the expert midwives of Austin Area Birthing Center at any time!
Skin-To-Skin Contact
One of the primary methods of bonding between mothers and babies is breastfeeding. While that bond is unique to mothers and babies, dads can still enjoy that kind of closeness by holding their babies close, skin-to-skin. Dads and their babies experience a rise in oxytocin while cuddling the same way that moms and babies do! Cuddling your warm, soft baby is a great way to show love and build those paternal feelings inside yourself.
Participate in Daily Activities
Use chores as an opportunity to spend one-on-one time with your baby. Dress your baby in the morning, feed him or her whenever you have to bottle feed, bathe your baby, change your baby – basically take any chance you can to care for your infant! Do these things mindfully, rather than checking them off the list. One of the best ways to feel like a dad is to act like a dad!
Read to Your Baby
Pediatricians recommend that you read aloud to your infant every day. Reading aloud helps your child develop language skills and creates a lifelong love of learning. You can read with your child more formally – using picture books to teach the names of different objects, or simply hold your child while you read something of more interest to you. Both exercises expose your baby to new words and normalize reading as a good activity.
Cuddle Up During Breastfeeding
You don’t want to steal mom’s special time with your baby, but you can share in the breastfeeding experience by cuddling mom and baby while your baby feeds. Keep your face close to mom’s so that your baby can see both of you!
Make Funny Faces With Your Baby
Infants don’t have a lot of options for entertainment. They’re not very mobile and pretty much have to look at whatever you put in front of their faces, which is why it’s a good thing that babies start recognizing faces minutes after they pop out of the womb! By making faces at your baby, you teach him or her who you are and begin the basics of socialization. Your baby will try to imitate your faces which helps both of you bond!
