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fall 2017 | pink ? blue 35 you can form a bond if you missed out on reading to the
baby
and singing him songs while he was in utero, there are still things you can do to
help
form or strengthen that bond. dr. norwood shares, ?spend time looking at your
baby
, making good eye contact, smiling, and talking. ?is can be done when you are changing diapers, feeding, and having focused playtime. if sitting down and
baby
talking with a two month old isn?t really your thing, do it anyway! once your
baby
is older, you can play in ways that feel more natural to you.? feeding the
baby
pumped milk or formula, cuddling with him to let him get used to your scent, and being an active participant of the caregiving processes are other ways to
help
form a bond, according to williams. while there may be some less-than- pleasant moments along the way, such as getting peed and pooped on, dr. funes encourages you to just laugh it off, jump right in, and own it. and for some extra bonding, he adds, ?try the skin- to-skin method so
baby
can hear your heartbeat and feel the rise of your chest.? also, having a special time together where it is just the two of you can be beneficial to your bonding process. dr. funes shares, ?my favorite time with my child was bathtime because it was our time. it was during that time that we found out what worked and what didn?t work. i encourage
dads
to have something that is theirs with their child. whether that be bathtime or bedtime, any one-one-one time you can have with your son or daughter is important.? don?t be nervous seeing the
baby
?s tiny little body, her tiny toes, and her tiny fingers can easily make you nervous and cause you to distance yourself in fear of hurting her. however,
dads
should not let this stop them from caring for their little ones. ?once the
baby
is born, we are mystified, and it can be overwhelming to a new dad.
dads
should know that babies are tough. ?ey can handle a lot, and they can handle the way dad holds them. ?ey are not going to break,? says dr. funes. to
help
alleviate some of those worries, dr. funes recommends getting educated on everything
baby
, even while in the hospital. ?become the expert. learn everything you can from the nurses before leaving the hospital. ask them how to swaddle the
baby
and what the best method is for diaper changing. it?s intimidating, but the more educated you are on everything, you will begin to feel more confident.? being a parent and a new dad is a learning process, but you have all of the tools you need to be a great dad. it?s a special time in your family, and while there will be bumps along the road, those bumps will be the things that make your parenting experience unique and bring you all closer together. and, being there to support mom along the way is an easy way to get one-on-one time with your
baby
and
help
her in the process as well. dr. funes suggests, ?let her know that you two are a team. give her an opportunity to tap out. take the night shift, if you can. it?s important to take those little things on because if mom is happy, everyone?s happy.? it?s not you, dad while it may feel like your little one is taking a while to warm up to you, don?t take it personally, he?s just really on ?team mom? right now. mallory breland williams, lcsw, of ?e art of healing and wellness shares, ?babies want their mothers more, especially in their earlier months. ?is is largely due to the nature of pregnancy. a
baby
knows his mother?s scent and voice. ?ough they can become familiar with other voices around them in utero, the mother?s voice is the one with which they are most familiar.? so don?t be alarmed if you notice that your newborn isn?t responding to your voice right away, because he will, it will just take time. rhonda norwood, phd and lcsw of goodwood counseling, shares, ??e amniotic fluid dulls external sounds so babies do not show as much preference for their
dads
? voices immediately after birth; however, babies are born primed to learn, and they begin to recognize other faces and voices within hours of being born. so, all is not lost for you,
dads
!? to
help
jumpstart the bonding process, though, it?s important for you to let
baby
become familiar with your voice as much as possible. dr. christopher funes, pediatrician with our lady of the lake children?s health, encourages
dads
to get to know their babies even while they are in utero. ?singing songs, reading to the
baby
, and feeling the
baby
?s kicks will
help
dad start forming a bond with him even before he is born,? he shares. by amanda miller you read all of the books, you went to all of the childbirth classes, and you were ready?hospital bag in hand?the second it was time for your
baby
boy?s arrival. but now, your little one is here and wants nothing to do with you. what? each time you try to soothe him, he only continues to cry until his mother takes over. ?is certainly wasn?t how you pictured things would be once he arrived. now you?re worrying about being able to
help
your wife with the
baby
without causing him to cry, and you?re probably wondering how you will even be able to form a relationship with him when all he wants is his mom.
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