A mother begins a connection with her baby, while he or she is in the womb. Any mother who has had a child can explain, that carrying a child is an amazing feeling. Those first few kicks, jabs, punches, to getting hiccups several times a day, and those nights where you can’t get comfortable. Once you have the baby, the real job as a parent begins. This tiny human being is dependent on mom and dad to fulfill all of their needs.
Create a Deep Connection with Your Child
Some children are easier to discipline than others. Do you want to raise a child that listens to you and is well mannered? Of course you do, who wants to have a out of control child tagging along behind you as you are frantically trying to leave the store because of their bad behavior. William and Martha Sears came to the conclusion that “the deeper the parent-child connection, the easier discipline will be.” (Sears & Sears, 15) It is important to begin developing a deep connection with your child once they are born, so that they quickly learn to feel secure, safe, and know that you are going to meet all of their needs.
Dad’s Need to Create a Deep Connection as Well
Dad’s often times feel left out because they don’t feel the same connection that a mother feels to her baby while in the womb. A dad can feel the baby moving in mom’s belly and can talk to the baby but they don’t have a 24/7 connection to the baby. If the mother decides to breastfeed the baby, dad may feel left out in the bonding process because he is unable to feed the baby. However, there are other ways that dad can bond with the baby and create that deep connection. For example:
- hold the baby while mom takes a break
- bring the baby to mom for those middle of the night feedings
- change a few diapers
- give the baby a bath
- play with the baby
- create a night time ritual
Meeting Your Child’s Needs Quickly Builds Trust
When your baby cries, it is important to respond quickly to their cries. A quick response lets your baby know that you are there and that you can be trusted. Trust is important to a child emotional well-being and helps develop a sense of security. This is beneficial as they begin to grow up, they already know that you can be trusted to meet their needs and nurture them in a loving manner.
Baby Led Weaning
If your baby is breastfed, allow them to make the decision to stop breastfeeding. Older babies often times view nursing as a source of comfort and trust, rather than nursing for nutritional purposes. I know some parents are objected to this method, if that is the case, then you can find another way to meet your child’s emotional needs and maintain the sense of trust that is achieved while nursing.
References
Sears, M.D. William & Sears, R.N, Martha (1995). The Discipline Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Better-Behaved Child – From Birth to Age 10. Canada: Little, Brown & Company.
