Bonding with your baby

Mother-child relationship

The bond between mother and child grows naturally during pregnancy.

Mother and baby spontaneously react to each other’s signals. The baby recognises the smell and heartbeat of its mother.

Each day the mother understands better what the baby needs. For example: why they cry or when they are hungry.

Breast-feeding helps to strengthen the bond between mother and child. Mothers who do not breast-feed can find other ways to bond with their baby.

Father-child relationship

For fathers, it can be more difficult to create such a strong bond. But fathers, too, can strengthen their relationship with their child. They can, for example:

• Feed the baby breast-milk or powdered baby milk from a bottle;
• Cuddle the baby;
• Bathe the baby;
• Carry the baby around in a sling.

These moments of closeness are important to father and child. It also means that the mother can rest from time to time.

Talking

Becoming a parent is a learning process. Talk to your family, friends, other parents and your general practitioner or midwife. They can help you and give advice. Also talk with your partner about what you both want and need.