Myth: Daddies will not bond with a baby unless food is involved.
I hear it all the time, “I plan on breastfeeding, but want to pump and introduce the bottle so that my husband can bond.” Or, “I want my partner to feed the baby at night so I can sleep.”
Truth: Daddies and non-breastfeeding mommies can bond with their babies in a LOT of ways!
Daddy bonding time is important and (surprise!) doesn’t have to include a pump or a bottle. Some of my favorite memories of my husband are the moments after birth when he held them, dressed them carefully, kissed their tiny noses and cradled them very gently in his arms. He was the only one who could put our youngest to sleep for the longest time. He had a magical way of bathing them without tantrums erupting. His broad shoulders settled their tummies and his fearlessness helped them grow confident and secure. None of these daddy bonding rituals involved a bottle, and to be quite honest with you, the few times we tried a bottle, I nearly knocked it out of his hand in a hormonal mama lion way.
Here are a few other ways your partner can bond with baby and become a partner to you and a parent to your new little one:
- Baby-wearing
- Bath time
- Diaper Changes
- Naps on your chest
- Baby massage
- Taking goofy Instagram pictures with baby
- Dressing
- Skin to skin care
- Playing video games while baby sits and watches you (captive audience)
- Walks
- Bedtime routine
- Burping
- Sing to them
- Making silly faces at the baby
- Reading Stories
- Loving and taking care of their breastfeeding partner
- Skeet Shooting
Ok, that last one is for a bit older child, I admit. Still though, there are a ton of ways that babies and their parents to bond and be involved with each other that don’t include food. Here are some more great ideas from Code Name Mama.