Are you going to be a Dad?

Here’s how you can create a strong bond with your baby!

Becoming a parent is full of new and unexpected experiences.

You may have some challenging parenting moments, but being a dad can also be a lot of fun as you and your baby get to know each other.

Recent research into dad and baby bonding reported that babies may be more likely to develop strong, secure attachment to their dads when they’ve had a lot of one-on-one time together since birth.

WORKING ON A STRONGER BOND WITH YOUR BABY – It’s actually a simple formula!

Men will often wonder how they will bond with their baby and worry about getting it right. If you feel like you don’t know where to start, it’s good to remember that being with your baby, simply spending time together is all your baby needs to feel safe and loved.

Here’s a few practical tips for dad and baby bonding time.

Activities that help you connect with your baby during pregnancy and in the first year after birth can help you to stress less and develop confidence in your parenting skills early on. 

Note: The magic can start in pregnancy!

From around 18 weeks of pregnancy, babies can hear sounds like their parent’s heartbeat. At around 26 weeks babies may start to respond in the womb to external sounds like your voice, sounds and music.

Talk: You can chat to your baby throughout pregnancy. You might like to sing to your bub, tell them how your day was, or try out a few dad jokes. Reading to your baby in the womb promotes brain activity and can promote early literacy skills and language development. While this may feel a little awkward for some men, the unspoken bond that it can create is un-deniable.

You could also share your thoughts about becoming their dad, and everything you’re looking forward to doing with your baby in future together. Newborns will often recognise Dad’s voice as comforting and familiar and will turn their head to find him in the room.

Touch: Touching or massaging your partner’s belly is a great way to spend time connecting with them and with your baby.

If you give your partner a gentle belly rub, you might feel a little kick or movement from your baby in response to your hands.

There are fantastic resources available if you’d like to explore more ideas for bonding. The following website can be accessed for a variety of additional resources.

PANDA | Support that’s always there, for you and your family