When you're a new parent, it often takes a while to understand your newborn's true capabilities and all the ways you can interact:
Touch becomes an early language as babies respond to skin-to-skin contact. It's soothing for both you and your baby while promoting your baby's healthy growth and development.
Eye-to-eye contact provides meaningful communication at close range.
Babies can follow moving objects with their eyes.
Your baby tries — early on — to imitate your facial expressions and gestures.
Babies prefer human voices and enjoy vocalizing in their first efforts at communication. Babies often enjoy just listening to your conversations, as well as your descriptions of their activities and environments.
A breastfed baby will receive regular close contact with her mother, helping an early bond to develop. Unfortunately, this is not always easy, so speak to your health visitor if you need any help or assistance.
Massage provides a more structured method of touching your baby and a way of promoting physical and mental growth as well as the parent-baby bond.
Regular activities such as nappy-changing time are a wonderful time to show your baby just how much you love him. Talk to him, kiss his tummy, tell him what lovely dimples he has and how much you love his smile. This will take your mind off what a messy job it is and show that you love him, no matter what.
Life is getting faster and faster, but slow and steady is best for baby. Stop and spend time with your baby. Relax and enjoy yourself. Your baby will love you no matter what.
Take time for yourself. An exhausted mom will not enjoy her baby. While your baby is asleep or someone is looking after him/her, treat that moment as a special break for you. Have a nice bath, take a quick nap, watch your favorite TV show, read and write emails, do some gardening or anything that you enjoy doing without your baby. You'll find that this special break (no matter how short it is) will help to rejuvenate yourself so that you can go back and be ready to enjoy your baby.
