101 Ways for men to bond with baby's.

It can sometimes be a challenge to engage and bond with baby. Maybe it is work or maybe you are busy trying to run the house. It is very important for a family to establish this early bond. For men bonding with the baby can be difficult, so I have compiled a 101 ways for men to bond with baby's.

By bonding with your baby it creates an intense relationship between you them. This is Important because the strong ties it creates teaches them the first model for an intimate relationship. It also provides them with a sense of security and positive self-esteem. The way you as parents respond to your babies signals can affect the child's cognitive and social development.

 I have managed to actually do the majority of these things with my baby, but here is the list.

You can keep up to date with Olivia's progress by reading some of my update posts.

101 Ways for men to bond with baby's.

1 Use a swaddler.

2 Feed baby middle of the night bottles.

3 Be involved in the Labour.

4 Singing to baby.

 5 Mirror babies movements.

6 Mimic babies noises.

7 Let baby feel textures of your face.

8 Bathing baby.

9 Let baby use standing (Positive support) reflex on you lap.

10 Look in to babies eyes.

 

11 Baby massage.

12 Tummy time, be on the floor with baby.

13 Tummy to tummy time place baby on your tummy skin on skin.

14 Talk to baby.

15 Use finger to gently stroke babies cheeks.

16 Skin on skin contact.

17 Change baby's nappies.

18 Tickle babies feet.

19 Feel babies toes.

20 Let baby fall asleep in your arms.

21 Laugh with baby.

22 Spend time alone with baby.

23 When breastfeeding, burp the baby.

24 Clean and sterilise the bottles.

25 Make up babies Moses basket/cot.

26 Choose and buy a specific toy to give to baby that can be 'the one you brought'.

27 Listen to music together.

28 Get up in the tiny hours of the morning to help rock baby to sleep.

29 Create calming light when bonding.

 30 Speak softly to baby.

31 Co-sleep.

32 Know and understand your babies cry.

33 Recognise what makes your baby smile/laugh.

34 Take time to just be a family no visitors

35 Be silly, blow raspberry's, speak goofy and generally be a clown.

36 Have baby facing you in your push chair.

37 Read your baby a story.

38 Tell baby about your day.

39 Morning snuggles under the duvet

40 Go swimming with baby

41 Build or assemble play arches etc, so when baby use's it you can say 'I did that'.

42 Don't sweat the big stuff that DIY project can wait its baby time.

43 Kiss baby on the forehead.

44 Boring day at work? Think about your baby.

45 Attend baby classes.

46 Read articles, blogs and books. Maybe a good Daddy blog? ;-)

47 Make sure you take the day off on your babies 1st birthday.

48 Cook and Mush your babies food up.

49 When working full time, ask what the daily routine is regularly as it will change.

50 Fed your baby and don't worry about the mess.

51 Get on your hands and knees and clean up the mess.

52 Mimic your child's toys noises.

53 Mimic your child's toys movements.

54 Kiss babies toes.

55 Be in a position to have the baby be sick on you i.e hold baby after feed's.

56 Lay down and have your face resting against babies face.

57 Touch your babies nose.

58 Watch babies movements and notice what they are looking at.

59 Smell your baby the smell of a newborn is unique.

60 Kiss babies belly.

61 Make baby keep sake boxes.

62 Do baby feet moldings with prepacked baby safe kits.

63 Walk around using a baby front carrier,

64 Hold your babies hand.

65 Stroke the back of your babies head.

66 Play little games on babies hands i.e this little piggy went to market.

67 Sit baby upright supporting with your thighs whilst lying down.

68 Hold baby in your arms in front of mirror.

69 Hold your baby up in the air looking at them.

70 Learn baby massage and put into practice.

71 Be involved in the packing of change bag and know what your baby will need.

72 Choose outfits/clothing for baby to wear each day.

73 Choose said clothing in shop and buy.

74 Sing to sooth baby.

75 Hold a favorite picture in your wallet.

76 Let baby feel nose, mouth and ears.

77 Gently blow in babies face.

78 Display baby pictures around the house.

79 Build up storage for babies cloths.

80 Fold babies washing (God knows there will be ton's)

81 Take baby for check up's

82 Take baby to get weighed in

83 Be the one to hold and cuddle for immunisation jabs.

84 Snuggle up close and rub noses.

 85 Lightly rub your babies arms and legs.

BEFORE BIRTH

86 Feel for babies movements.

87 Speak to the bump as if baby was with you.

88 Find out babies sex at dating scan.

89 Have a good birthing plan wiht your partner.

90 Have a 3D scan.

91 Keep the scan pictures in your wallet (best to keep printed copies not originals).

92 Decide on babies name before labour.

93 Attend antenatal classes.

94 Help with tasks your partner find hard now.

95 Respond to your babies kicks.

96 Practice hypnobirthing.

97 Attend antenatal yoga classes with your partner.

98 Sing to the bump.

99 Help your partner by running baths

100 Lay your head on the bump

101 Tell your bump or baby you love them as many times as you can.

Thank you for reading my list of 101 Ways for men to bond with baby's. I can not say how much of an amazing feeling it is to get responses from your baby. Knowing that you are helping baby to develop social and cognitive skills is a lovely feeling.