15 Tips for Dad To Bond With Their Newborn Baby

Dad Bonding With InfantDad, do you feel as if you are having trouble bonding with your baby?  Many dad’s feel as if it is harder to bond with their newborn baby, especially, if mom chooses to breast feed their baby.  If you are feeling left out and can’t participate in your baby’s feedings, use these 15 tips to help bond with your baby.  Some mom’s do use a breast pump to pump breast milk into a bottle so that dad can join in on infant feedings.  However, dad’s you can still bond with your baby without ever feeding your baby a bottle.

Disclosure:  The opinions reflected in this post are my own and may differ from your own.

15 Tips for Dad To Bond With Their Newborn Baby

1.  Pick up your baby from their crib and bring your child to mom for feedings at night.

2.  Change your babies diaper.

3.  Rock your baby to sleep when they are ready for a nap.

4.  Play and spend time with your baby so that mom can have a break, get a nap, or have a chance to take a shower.

5.  Create a bedtime routine at night with your child by reading a book or signing your child lullabies or another routine that is something that only you and baby do each day.

6.  Help or give your baby a bath.

7.  Hold and snuggle with your baby.

8.  Talk or sing songs to your baby.  They may not fully understand what your saying but they love listening to your voice and learning new rhythms and sounds.

9.  Gaze into your babies eyes or watch your baby sleep in your arms.

10.  Baby wearing is not only fun but it is a great way for your baby to feel comfort and love.  They will get acquainted with your smell and your heart beat.

11.  Learn your babies cries and what they mean so that you can accurately respond to your baby’s cry.

12.  Give your infant a massage.

13.  Encourage dad to take baby for walks outside, it is a great way for dad to get some exercise and fresh air.

14.  Learn how to sooth your crying and upset baby.

15.  Encourage dad to attend your child’s doctor or well baby check ups so that they can learn about their child’s health.

Did you have trouble bonding with your baby?  

Comments

16 responses to “15 Tips for Dad To Bond With Their Newborn Baby”

  1. rhonda Avatar

    Oh, I absolutely love, love, love and love to see Dads “wearing” baby around the house or in public. I also think it’s important (these tips) in situations where Mom is nursing; the tip about allowing Dad to wake baby and cuddle baby while the mother prepares is an excellent tip. It’s probably easy for Dad to feel left out if Mom is nursing. Great tips. Awesome post. Thanks for sharing!!

    1. Christy Avatar

      I wish that I would have bought a Moby wrap when my baby was a baby so that we could have worn him more.

  2. Jennifer H Avatar

    aww these are great tips! 🙂

    1. Christy Avatar

      Thank you Jennifer.

  3. Pamela R Avatar

    this is a super list will print it up and include it in the card at the next baby shower I attend!

    1. Christy Avatar

      Great idea, I hope the dad’s to be enjoy the list.

  4. Roxi @ Mr. Jacob's Mom Avatar

    Aww, I miss having a newborn at home! My husband did so well when Jacob was still an infant. He absolutely made life easy for me as I was recovering from the CS.

    1. Christy Avatar

      I miss having a newborn as well, my baby will be two on Sunday. It is hard to believe I was impatiently awaiting his arrival two years ago.

  5. Liz @ Pardon My Poppet Avatar

    Love these points! Sharing with my hubby via e-mail as soon as I’m done commenting. I really didn’t take advantage of him having baby time with our first. This time around I’m hoping to have him do a lot more!

    1. Christy Avatar

      Liz, let me know if he enjoyed the list. 🙂

  6. Rebel Sweetheart Avatar

    First-time dads should learn from this post. 🙂

    1. Christy Avatar

      I hope so too Rebel.

  7. Lexie Lane Avatar

    These are all really great tips Christy! The bath thing is definitely something my husband doesn’t like very much for some reason but I heard it is one of the best ways for dad and child to connect.

    1. Christy Avatar

      Giving a newborn a bath isn’t an easy task. They soap makes them slippery to hold on to.

  8. Courtney~Mommy LaDy Club Avatar

    I always like to see dads wearing their babies too. It’s so cute:) Great tips!

    1. Christy Avatar

      I wish that I could have captured some photos of my husband baby wearing but we didn’t have a wrap to carry my son in until he was a bit bigger.