Many moms dream of the moment their baby comes into the world. They have a scenario in their mind of the doctor placing the baby on their chest so that they can gaze at each other and bond. This happens, but not always. Some moms do not bond at first sight, and some babies have problems that cause them to spend some time in the NICU away from parents for a few hours, days, or even months. If you did not bond right away, don't worry – you will. Baby wearing is one way that you can stay close to your baby and bond with them if you feel that it did not happen right away, or even if it did. It is a great way for all babies to be close to parents no matter what.
Baby wearing brings baby close to the skin and the scent of their parents. This will help bonding, and will also encourage baby to eat more if they are breastfeeding. The only security a baby knows right away are the smells and sounds that they remember from the womb. This includes the scent of mom and the warm feeling of skin on skin. A baby knows mom by the scent of her breast milk as well as by the scent of her skin. Baby will want to be close to feel secure, and baby wearing is a great way to accomplish this.
Premature babies will respond well to baby wearing. This can be done in the NICU, even when baby has various tubes and wires attached. Parents can do what is called Kangaroo Care. This is placing the diapered baby up against the bare chest of mom or dad. Studies have shown this helps them thrive not only from the closeness to mom and dad, but also because they can hear the heartbeat, which is soothing to them as it is a familiar womb sound. This can be done at home after baby leaves NICU or for full term babies as a bonding ritual.
Baby slings are great ways to go about learning baby wearing. These can keep baby close while allowing mom or dad to go about doing the things they need to do. You can sit in a chair with baby but not everyone has time to do this for hours on end each day. In a sling, baby is close to you and your warmth and smell, but your hands can be free for whatever you have to do. Baby slings are versatile and can be worn in many ways depending on the age of your baby. See instructions for baby wearing that come with your sling. Some come with a DVD that shows you what to do.
Baby wearing can be done in many ways. If this is something you want to do, talk with your pediatrician about safe ways to keep baby close to you. This can be done as a part of attachment parenting or on its own if you do not feel that all aspects of attachment parenting are for you. Remember to keep baby close but also to keep baby safe. If your style of keeping baby close means a snuggle in the chair each day, by all means go with it. Your child will grow up safe and secure if they know you are always going to be there for them. That lesson starts from day one.
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