Dr. Sears Gives You 6 Ways Parents Can Bond with their Babies

In the U.S., July, August and September are the most popular months to give birth, according to research. Dr. Sears, popular pediatrician and author, has teamed up with Huggies to provide you with bonding tips.

Many parents are anticipating the arrival of their baby. While in the womb, from the 23rd week on, an unborn baby’s hearing is developed enough to enable them to respond to outside noise. This is a great time to start the bonding process.

Here's 6 tips on how to bond with your baby from Dr. Sears:

Pre-birth: 
1) Introduce your voice to baby: Talk to your preborn baby. Let them get familiar with your voice.

After-birth:
2) With Touch: Skin to skin contact will help your baby feel secure.

3) Routine: Helps babies feel safe and secure

4) Diaper Changing: Time to smile, tickle and talk to them. Bond during this time. Reserve songs, big eyes and facial expressions. Try walking fingers on their tummy and/or legs. They tend to anticipate the fun time and start to look forward to it. This may lead them to squirm less. Don't forget to also pay attention to skincare.

4) Feeding Time: Take the moments to bond while doing this. It is so frequent and gives you an easy way to bond.

6) Snuggling: Embracing and holding helps attachment. Dr. Sears likes to see dads participate here, he calls is the neck nestle. The deeper voice, crock of neck and touch baby with cheek on the top of the head.

William Sears, M.D. BIO

For over 40 years Dr. William Sears has advised busy parents on raising healthier families. He learned how to help children heal during his medical training at Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, where he was associate ward chief of the newborn intensive care unit. As a father of 8 children, he and his wife Martha have authored dozens of popular books and countless articles on parenting and childcare, and his AskDrSears.com website is one of the most popular health and parenting sites. He is noted for his science-made-simple-and-fun approach to family health.