It is common to hear that “babies are very boring” and that beyond satisfying their basic needs of hunger, sleep and hygiene, little can be done to enjoy their first months of life.
But the truth is that this belief is wrong, because not only is it possible to greatly enjoy the company of your baby , but it is very necessary to do it consciously every day, because this connection favors the development of your little one and strengthens your bond.
If you have just become a mother or father, we tell you how you can connect with your baby on a daily basis and make those moments together unforgettable.
Place the baby on your chest
There is no more wonderful, pleasurable and unforgettable feeling for a mother or father than placing their baby on their chest and forgetting about the world . And it is that when you feel your baby on you, you listen to his slow breathing and the beating of his heart, everything that is outside stops making sense, because the only thing that really matters is your little one.
If possible, my advice is to uncover your chest or unbutton your shirt and undress your baby, so that this contact is directly on the skin, and thus you both benefit from this wonderful practice.
Talk to him from the start
Even if your baby does not understand what you say, do not stop talking to him every day when you are by his side . Explain what you are going to do (“let’s go for a walk”, “I’m going to change your diaper”…), tell him how you feel, tell him how much you love him…
Remember that during the nine months of pregnancy your baby has heard your voice through the womb, so once he is out, continuing to listen to you will help him to be calmer, calmer and more confident.
As your baby grows, he will begin to make his first sounds. Responding to these sounds, smiling at them and engaging in a two-way dialogue with them will not only stimulate their neural, social and emotional development , but will also help them later in language acquisition.
caress him
Caresses are a powerful and powerful gesture of connection that brings calm and well-being, both to the one who receives them and to the one who caresses. Thus, when we caress our baby, we are transmitting through touch that we are by his side, that we love him and protect him, making him feel safe and confident.
Any time is a good time to connect with our baby through touch . For example, caressing him while he is breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, gently touching his head when we carry him, putting our hand on his while he is sleeping…
give him a massage
Massage is a practice with great benefits for everyone, including the strengthening of bonds and communication through the sense of touch . For the baby, massages also help to calm down, relieve colic and promote the sleep routine.
So, whenever your baby is willing (there are some who do not like this practice), find a suitable time and place to enjoy this unique connection and let yourself be invaded by the positive effects of a good infant massage session.
kiss him
When we see our baby, we melt with love for that being that we have created and gestated. It seems like a miracle to have him in our arms now, so small, so perfect… It is difficult to describe in words the feelings that he awakens in us and the deep love that we feel and overflows from our chest.
One of the many ways to show our baby the unconditional love we feel is through kisses. Kisses, just like we mentioned before with hugs, are a basic baby need and a powerful connection tool with innumerable benefits.
sing him a song
Whether it’s the classic lullabies, trendy songs or your favorite songs. Anything goes when it comes to connecting with your baby through music ; considered as a “universal language”.
Several studies have shown that singing to the baby has great benefits for its development, in addition to promoting relaxation.
Watch him while he sleeps
That of taking the opportunity to do things while the baby sleeps is very good, but it is also worth stopping from time to time and observing him carefully , letting ourselves be carried away by the peace that they transmit when they are peacefully asleep.
Their sighs, little frights, grimaces and even involuntary smiles are some of the things that you will be able to contemplate while watching over their dreams, and that will make you die of love.
look him in the eye
During the first months of life, the baby’s vision is hardly developed, so they can see little and at a short distance. But this does not mean that he does not see us when we hold him in our arms.
In fact, little by little the baby will notice more details of our face, becoming familiar with it and relating the pleasant sensations offered by our arms or our chest, with the appearance of our face.
That is why it is so important to look the baby directly in the eye when we hold or feed him. In addition, our look will make you feel safe, cared for and loved .
As for the mother or father, looking directly into the eyes of their baby will strengthen their emotional connection, and if this practice is continued as the child grows, it will lay the foundation for positive and respectful communication between them.
Smile and return their smiles
The smile is one of the first social behaviors that the baby shows . In this way, when our little one begins to smile at us voluntarily, he will not only be expressing his emotions, but also showing us how important we are in his life and the need to interact with us.
It is essential to return their smiles to promote their emotional and social development, as well as to enhance their communication.
But the sincere smile is not only a way of expression and communication, but above all of connection. It is a powerful and simple way to show the other person that we care, that they make us feel good and that they can trust us.
Dance with your baby in your arms
Both holding our child in our arms and dancing as a family are two practices with great benefits for the child’s development, so it is not difficult to imagine the positive aspects of combining both activities in one.
And it is that gently and rhythmically rocking the baby to the beat of the music – whether we hold him in our arms or carry him – not only provides the baby with a moment of relaxation, but also improves the mood of the adult, favoring both the connection and communication between the two.
Play with him
Parents are the best toys for our children. They love to play with us , that we are by their side and that we correspond to their calls for attention.
You may not know how to play with your baby while he is young, because the concept of “play” that we adults sometimes have usually corresponds to an older age. But the truth is that there are many ways to interact with the baby through play, all of which are powerful connection gestures with important benefits.
Photos | iStock
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