Bonding is essential for any baby. Whether adopted or biological, babies have needs that are critical for proper development of mind and body. Newborns come ready to start this bonding process. Parents are the ones who don’t know where to start, especially if their baby is adopted or been placed in the NICU.

KidsHealth.org says, “Studies of newborn monkeys who were given mannequin mothers at birth showed that, despite the efforts of the baby monkeys to get a response through holding and touching the mannequins, the lack of a parental response caused stunted development, sadness, and failure to thrive… Scientists suspect that lack of bonding in human babies causes similar problems.”

Infants spend nine months inside their mother…listening to her heart beat, her voice, her breathing, the rhythms of her body. After birth, there is another world to contend with. For some babies, this can be frightening. How can you make this transition easier while promoting bonding at the same time? Try these tips from Tweetie Pie Baby.

Hold your baby so she can feel your heartbeat. Skin to skin contact is known to be a calming, familiar experience for newborns. They can hear your heartbeat, smell your scent and know that you are close. This connection is important for dads too. Even if you can’t be skin to skin, you can use a baby sling carrier placed so your baby can hear your heart.

Talk with your baby, and make eye contact often. This not only increases awareness and communication, but rapidly encourages developing language skills. Hearing your voice provides reassurance to your baby. Maintaining eye contact builds trust and nurtures your growing relationship.

Use a baby sling carrier to create a womb like atmosphere. While inside carrier, an infant is held close to your body, feeling all the very same rhythms they felt before birth. That familiarity gives them comfort and increases their level of attachment. Babies who are carried are known to sleep better and have less colic.

According to Dr. Jim Sears, “Carried babies fuss less and spend more time in the state of quiet alertness, the behavior state in which babies learn most about their environment.” A baby sling carrier can help with the concern about attachment and healthy emotional development.

Use Infant Massage to comfort your baby. All babies, especially premature babies and those with medical problems may respond well to infant massage. Muscular stimulation increases feelings of comfort and relaxation. Be sure to use gentle pressure with your newborn.

Consider breastfeeding either biological or adopted babies. This may be a complex task, but it can be done. The benefits both emotional and nutritional are outstanding. Bottle feeding can still be a bonding experience as long as you hold your infant close with skin to skin contact. Hands free nursing while using a baby sling carrier is a wonderful option to provide more freedom and privacy. Information on how to breastfeed an adopted child can be found by contacting La Leche League or a lactation consultant at your local hospital.

About the Author:
Jenna Haynie is a Denver Colorado native and owner of Tweetie Pie Baby. A resource for baby essentials.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/andythegeek/24459451/

As you are planning your next vacation do you get sticker shock from the cost of accommodations, airfare and meals? Are you tired of the usual resort or theme-park destinations where you are passively entertained (and constantly opening your wallet)? Are you searching for a vacation that will be relaxing for you and an unforgettable experience for the kids? Do you want to be at a place that is real and not manufactured? What you need is a good old-fashioned farm vacation.

Staying at a farm - even if you just stay a weekend - is an experience your family will never forget. If you have kids, it is a chance for them to experience firsthand where food comes from and even help with farm chores, such as feeding baby lambs and collecting eggs. It a way out of the hustle and bustle of modern life; it is a retreat that brings you and your family back to America’s farm roots and a calmer, simpler way of life.

Farm vacations are not new. In fact, 50 years ago city dwellers who needed a break would call their country cousins for a respite from urban life. However, today, with less than 2% of the U.S. population now living on working farms, finding a relative with a farm is unlikely for most people. But now more than ever — with the frenetic pace of suburban & urban life at full tilt — we all desperately need a vacation “away from it all.”

Luckily there still many farmers who, in addition to farming, love to play host to their urban “cousins.” These farmers are part of an ever-growing trend of agri-tourism. According to a recent article in the Boston Globe the farm vacation is increasingly becoming a popular getaway among suburban families. This trend is being fueled by a surging interest in environmentally-conscious tourism and the increased enthusiasm for local organic food among suburbanites and urban dwellers - who rightly believe that children ought to know and understand where food comes from.

What’s it like to stay on a farm? Imagine for a moment waking to the sound of the rooster crowing and chickens clucking. How about rolling out of bed and collecting fresh eggs with your kids for your breakfast? You can then stroll around the farm, go fishing, milk a cow, sip lemonade on the rocking chair on the porch, feed a baby lamb out of a bottle, or go for a hayride. The pace and pressures of everyday life slip away.

This is a place you can really “let go” on vacation, participate in some real down-to-earth activities, eat wholesome home-grown and cooked meals, and probably have the best sleep you’ve had in years. Many parents who have taken a farm vacation report that it is more relaxing than a traditional vacation (such as at a Club Med or Disney World), plus farm vacations promote simpler values they want to instill in their children - like hard work and respect for nature.

A farm vacation is not only relaxing, but it is a true bargain. The average middle income American family spends hundreds of dollars annually in its two weeks’ pursuit of fun and relaxation. You probably lay out even more money on camping equipment, special vehicles, boats, motorcycles, gasoline, motels, restaurants, camping fees, portable TVs, movies, liquor, repair bills and more. Sometimes you need a vacation after your vacation to recover from the stress of spending all that money and not really having a relaxing time.

Your farm vacation helps not only your family, but small family farms. Taking a farm vacation not only benefits you and your family - but farmers as well. For farmers - the influx of guests who are willing to pay for lodging and the “farm experience” is becoming vital to their economic survival and preserving the rural landscape. In fact, farms who include some kind of “agri-tourism” (such as farm stays) are managing to stay afloat and even thrive.

With many independent farms on the verge of extinction, cash-strapped farmers are finding a good stream of income hosting urban/suburban guests…who actually want to milk their cows and gather eggs!

So this season, instead of taking your usual vacation, pack your bags, your muck boots, and your sense of adventure and head for the nearest farm. It will be an experience you and your kids will be talking about for years to come.

By Marcia Passos Duffy
About the author:Marcia Passos Duffy is the author of the e-book, “Farm Stays: Northern New England. Your Guide to an Unforgettable Farm Vacation” to order your copy visit http://www.booklocker.com/books/2514.html. Marcia is also the publisher of the free online magazine, The Heart of New England www.TheHeartofNewEngland.com. Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/mindgutter/452252783/

Buy the Book: Farm Stays