Creating Lifelong Bonds With Your Baby

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Recently I was asked what ways I’ve discovered are to be the best ways to create lifelong bonds with my child and I actually had to think about this one. Sounds silly I know, but everything has been so innate that both my husband and I had been doing everything without really thinking about it (for the most part, lol!). My husband and I were lucky enough to have good examples set for us by both of our parents and trust me, I read so many books before Mabel was born that I had a pretty good idea of what I would do to maximize my bonding time with her.

So let me just tell you the tops five ways that I feel have had the most impact on both my and my husband’s bonding with Mabel:

1. Touch – From birth Mabel and I had skin to skin contact. It brings a sense of closeness and comfort to both mother and baby and is the first method of bonding available. Bonding though touch can range from feeding (both bottle feeding and breastfeeding), baby massage, simple cuddling and so much more.
2. Being Active Together – This is exactly as it sounds! Mabel and I go on walks all the time. From stroller outings when she was first born to strolling around the neighborhood in her push car, getting out and being active sets the tone for a healthy lifestyle. Not to mention it’s quality time you can spend with your little one.
3. Music– Mabel has loved music since she was in my belly. Whenever she’d hear it she would wiggle around. When she was a newborn, we’d play it gently in the background and she’d smile, and now as a toddler when she hears it, she drops everything and dances. And I even dance with her. I think she enjoys watching me act a fool but this time is filled with laughter and smiles…from both of us.
4. Reading – This is so important to start doing from birth! Your baby will love hearing your voice and enjoy spending the one on one time with you. As a teacher I could go on endlessly with the benefits of reading to your child…and since we’ve read to Mabel since birth, she now loves books and initiates reading time on her own. She’ll grab a book, plop herself down in one of our laps, and wait to be read a story. It melts my heart!
5. Babywearing – If you think about it, your baby has been used to being carried since he/she was in your belly so it’s only natural to think that wearing your baby is a great way to continue that bond! They are used to swaying with you as you walk so why not babywear once they are here? Get dad involved too since your baby will love it no matter who is doing the wearing!

We still use all five of those forms of bonding in our home, it’s just that they are constantly being modified as Mabel grows to fit her needs. I’m also still babywearing her at twenty three pounds! And yes…it’s actually comfortable! I just wish I would have started wearing her straight from birth. I was intimidated and not confident in my wrapping/wearing abilities so I gave up. But once I finally decided to practice, practice, practice shortly before Mabel turned one, I got babywearing down to a science and it’s easy! Mabel even knows how to get into ‘babywearing position’ when it comes time to getting wrapped.

If you’re looking to get into babywearing, I highly suggest looking into Boba Carriers! Their wraps and carriers will get your child through the newborn months all they way through the toddler years, allowing you to continue that parent-child bond.

Want some additional ideas on how to bond with your little one? Check out my ‘Bonding with Baby’ Pinterest board!

What’s your favorite way to establish a lifelong bond with your little one(s)?

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. The opinions and text are all mine.