We all know that as soon as babies are born, they should be placed on their mother’s chest for immediate bonding. Have you ever considered just why that bonding is so important, though?
According to research conducted by Jeannette Crenshaw, assistant professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, during the sensitive period – the first hour or so after a baby is born – a mom experiences high levels of oxytocin (the maternal reproductive hormone) which increases during skin-to-skin care. This reduces maternal and newborn stress, helps your baby transition to postnatal life and increases maternal and newborn attachment and bonding.
Bonding between a parent and child, however, continues well after the sensitive period.
According to Ya-Hsin Lai, PhD Researcher in Education at the University of Bath, babies need to feel this sense of attachment at birth just as a child needs it to feel safe and secure when they’re feeling sad, angry or stressed. These attachments will even help them later in life. She explains, “Children who receive this will consider themselves worthy of being loved by others. They are then able to seek support and consolation from others in the future."
She continues, "It also aides the ability to cope well with life’s adversities, instead of bottling things up or dealing with troubles in an aggressive manner. A strong attachment encourages children to consider the thoughts, actions and feelings of others. And due to their skills of understanding, empathy and tolerance, such children are also more likely to be liked and trusted, helping them to form stable relationships in later life.”
She therefore concludes that as parents, we should look for ways to bond with our babies, and even our older kids, to let them know that they will always have our unconditional love and support.
- Read more of Ya-Hsin Lai research here: Our kids need unconditional love and support during exam time – not added pressure
Well, while these dads may not have had that very first sensitive period moment to make skin-to-skin contact with their babies, they certainly have found a new, adorable and, dare I say, hilarious way to bond with their babies.
How, you ask? Well, with daddy-baby dance class, of course.
Watch the video below.
We absolutely love the idea of bonding with our babies through dance by the GroovaRoo Dance team.
Where do we sign up?
Read more:
- Daddy-daughter goals: when dad's hair game is on point
- New research pokes holes in the idea that men don’t look after their kids
- Instead of telling his son to toughen up, this dad taught his little man the importance of never giving up
Have you found creative and adorable ways to bond with your babies? How about your kids and teens? Tell us by commenting below?
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