This article was supplied by www.wickwoods.co.uk, a country club hotel and spa based in West Sussex with high quality facilities and stunning views of the Sussex Downs.
Establishing a close working relationship between baby and both mother and father is essential for the baby’s wellbeing. By creating that bond between child and parent, you build a solid foundation where the child can start learning social skills, communication skills and much more. Whether it is something as simple as spending a quiet moment together just listening to each other’s heartbeats, reading a book to your baby or something a little more sporty, every little helps when bonding with your baby.
We’ll take a look at five great activities where you can successfully create parent, child bonding time that is enjoyable for both parties. All of these activities are suitable for a boy or a girl baby and can be used by mum and dad both to increase their parent-child bond.
1. Reading
When you read aloud to your baby, you start getting them accustomed to the sound of your voice. Children of all ages love being read to, even if they don’t quite understand the depth behind the story just yet. The voice of a parent can be an extremely comforting thing and as your child grows older, they will want to start joining in with the reading, pointing out words and phrases that sound and look familiar.
You can start off with simple books or comic books or even fantasy books if you fancy. When you are reading to a baby it is less about the subject matter and more about the tone of your voice and the physical closeness as you read. As your child grows and starts to get a better understanding of the world around them, you’ll want to switch to more suitable books that they can evaluate as well.
2. Bathing
Everyone loves a relaxing, hot bath and in many ways it is regressive, taking us back to our days in the womb. The warm water and the shape of the bath often calms us and this can work wonders for restless children. Make sure not to run the water too hot if you are bathing with your child, as their skin is extremely sensitive and will burn easily. You can bath at home or go to a nearby country club where there are sometimes parent-child sessions to help you bond with your baby.
3. Singing or just talking
Have a sing-song! Like when reading aloud to your child, the baby will seek comfort in the tone of your voice and when singing we have ways of expressing our joy that shines through in a completely different way to when speaking out loud. Even if it is just for five minutes a day, sharing a little song with your child is a way of expressing your love and you might even get a few tunes back as they get a little older!
4. Playtime, in the park or about town
Babies are incredibly inquisitive. They gaze, wide eyed at the world around them full of wonder. So why not put this to good use? Take your child out on trips around town, to the zoo, to the park. Show them as much of the world as they will pay attention to (within financial reason). Some people claim to have memories of their very early experiences, so while some naysayers will say you are wasting money and time, only time will tell.
5. Nap time
Everyone needs a good rest every now and then. There is a saying among new parents ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ as this means you get rest and are still slightly functional for feeds and nappy changing etc. A great, yet subtle way of bonding is to sleep with the baby resting on your stomach or chest, as he or she feels your heartbeat. This is an extremely relaxing position and one adopted by many primates. And you don’t even have to put any effort into it! Just sleep.
Although your baby may not hold onto these early memories, you will still hold them in your heart and you can document those using photographs, and in the end what truly matters is the bond you create with each other. As bonding is a process, it is not something that happens in the blink of an eye. You have to work at it, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore. You should enjoy the time you spend together and the memories you create with your ch
