Connecting with the baby

A strong emotional bond with you will be key to your child's willingness and courage to explore, learn and grasp the world around him/her. This relationship is not a given and develops from the first moment of the parents and child's life together.

Your strong emotional bond with the baby is based, above all, on the way you spend time together and the extent to which you see the world from your child's perspective - so you understand his/her needs and readily, warmly, consistently respond to them. Connecting with the baby relies primarily on getting to know him/her. This is why the first steps in developing a strong emotional bond between you are dedicated to this:

Take time each day to make one-on-one contact with your baby

Caring for a newborn, recovering and establishing new routines can be truly exhausting. This is why it is important to set aside at least a brief special time for you and the baby, when you do not think about other things related to the household or your other roles, a time when you are completely dedicated to getting to know and "talking" to the baby. Be close to the baby so that he/she can see, hear and touch you with random movements. Speak in a gentle voice, touch him/her and try to keep eye contact for as long your baby can. Your undivided attention will be a strong encouragement for the baby to learn to relax with you, share soothing, tender moments with you, and bond with you;

Gently touch, cuddle, hug your baby

  • Babies react strongly to touch and are very sensitive to it. Do this often, during bathing, changing, feeding routines, as well as during your special time together.

Always respond when the baby is crying

  • with your voice and by holding him/her in your arms, body movements, clasping him/her to you. This is how the baby learns that he/she can expect protection and care from you. For him/her, it is the key source of security.

Carry your baby

  • While he/she is a newborn, whenever possible, hold him/her close to your body. For babies in the first days of life, skin-to-skin contact is especially important. 
  • The baby will not "get used" to being held or be spoiled by it. Research unequivocally shows that touch and physical contact in the first days of a baby's life is the best source of security and learning, and the best opportunity for bonding between the baby and parents.

Make sure your baby is physically safe with you 

  • always support his/her head and neck; pay attention to how you change his/her position and what positions are best for him/her, so as to ensure the possibility of moving, watching, talking.

Talk to your baby from day one

  • Keep your voice soft, quiet, soothing. There is no need to use baby talk; speak in clear words, but gently. Talk about anything, describe what you are doing, tell him/her some stories, talk about what is on your mind. In the first days, this will ensure that the baby becomes familiar with your voice, and later it will be the basis for speech development.

As you talk or sing, look the baby in the eyes

  • Smile widely and make clear changes of your facial expression in line with what you say and how you say it. Change the timbre and pitch of your voice as you speak. This will keep your baby's attention focused.