The early relationship you, your partner and family have with your baby is very important. It helps lay the foundations for who they will be and their relationships with other people
How you care for them and respond to their needs helps shape the way their mind – and brain – develops.
Attachment
If you give your baby responsive care and lots of attention, it will help them manage their feelings and have safe and healthy relationships in the future. This is called a secure attachment.
Spending time together and getting to know each other is the perfect way to help your relationship grow and build a strong and close bond.
Keeping your baby close
New babies have a strong need to be close to you. Holding them, smiling, talking to and comforting them:
Keeping your baby safe
One of the purposes of attachment is to keep children safe.
Some parents love their children but can’t keep them consistently cared for and safe. If that happens it can affect attachment.
If you’re worried about your safety or your baby’s, tell someone you trust and ask for help.
Getting to know your baby
You and your baby start building a relationship even before they’re born, and after birth this speeds up. This is how your baby makes a secure attachment.
It’s a 2 way process. Your baby will quickly find ways to connect with you and tell you what they need.
Your baby will try to communicate with you in lots of ways. Watching your baby and taking cues from what they’re telling you helps you to understand each other.
As you get to know each other you’ll get better at understanding what they need. This will strengthen your relationship as they grow.
Bonding works both ways
Just as you are curious about your baby and what they’re like, your baby wants to get to know you and bond with you.
Don’t worry about doing everything right and trying to be the perfect parent. You’ll be good enough just by being yourself.
Being a new parent can be busy and tiring. Try to make time each day to sit and enjoy watching your baby when they’re awake.
If you’re finding it hard to relax with them and you feel a bond isn’t growing, talk to your health visitor or family nurse.
Building a strong bond
There are many ways to build a strong bond with your baby. You can:
How your baby will react to you
Babies love to look at faces rather than objects and are ready to interact with people from the start. They can focus best at about 20 cm, around the distance from your arms to their eyes when you’re holding them.
Your baby will:
When you look, talk and smile at your baby you’re helping them learn how to interact with others.
Don’t rush
Babies need time to work everything out. Take your time and:
Crying
Sometimes babies cry and it’s important to respond and not leave them to cry. Going to your baby when they’re crying isn’t spoiling, it’s giving them the feelings of safety and security they need to grow and develop.
Some of the hardest moments when you’re a new parent can be when your baby isn’t behaving the way you would want them to, such as if they’re crying a lot. If you’re finding it hard to cope, speak to your health visitor, family nurse, a friend, or local support group.
Your baby’s relationships with other people
The people who support you and your baby have a special role to play in the family.
Babies enjoy being with people who look different and have their own way of talking or communicating. Your partner and close members of the family can give your baby love and safety as well as different experiences.
Together you can help to make a rewarding life for them.
As your baby grows
Babies form a bond with their mothers, fathers, siblings and the other important people in their lives. Those bonds are really special.
In the early days and months, the people who support you will probably help in practical ways so you can focus on your baby.
As your baby grows they’ll need other people to take on new roles to:
Getting support
Everyone wants to be the best parent they can be. Sometimes it’s easy to feel pressure to be perfect, bringing feelings of guilt, shame or worry.
Becoming a parent yourself can be more difficult if you had a difficult start in life or been emotionally or physically hurt by your parents but it doesn’t mean that you cannot become a good parent.
If you would like extra support your health visitor, family nurse or GP can help.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Being pregnant and becoming a parent isn’t easy and you’ll have ups and downs. Some parents find it hard to ask for help with their mental health. They worry people will think they can’t cope or their baby will be taken away.
Remember, asking for help:
You and your baby’s wellbeing is everyone’s priority.
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