Bonding with Your Baby
Many people describe bonding as a magical moment that happens at the moment of your baby's birth, when you're overcome by love for this little person. While that's certainly the way it happens for a lot of women, not all mothers feel that immediate sense of connection — sometimes, that love bond takes a while to grow. And even if you did feel an immediate rush of joy and elation when you saw your baby, you may have doubts during your first weeks of motherhood — am I doing this right? Am I bonding strongly enough with my baby? Am I giving him
Essential
Even if you'd already planned on going back to work or staying home before your baby was born, you may find that the decision is more complicated now that he's actually here. It's okay to change your mind. Do what you think is best for you, your baby, and your family now.
How Babies Bond Babies and mothers bond with all their senses. Your baby is learning to love your smell, the sound of your voice, the feel of your skin, the sight of your face, and the taste of your milk. You may find yourself wanting to smell, touch, look at, hear, and maybe even taste him, too! It's normal — enjoy it!
Can You Love Your Baby Too Much?
It's natural to want to hold your baby all the time, to not want to be separated from him, and to not want to hear him cry. Babies are programmed to get adult attention from their cries, and mothers are hard-wired to respond to their babies' needs. Through touch and attention to his needs, your baby will learn to trust you, and you'll forge an even stronger bond with him.
Fact
A recent study conducted by the University of London showed that when parents don't respond to their young babies' cries, the babies cry 50 percent more — and continue to cry more at twelve weeks of age.
