Attachment Parenting

Is Infant Bonding Really an Issue?

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Author: Jenna Haynie

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/

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