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Have you fallen head-over-heels for your newborn baby? Then you've inoculated him with a powerful medicine called bonding.
Many new parents describe the feeling of meeting their babies for the first time as the same feeling as falling in love. Experts in infant and child psychology call this bonding, and most believe that bonding is vital to an infants well being. But this process may not happen overnight, in fact it may take several months to really attach to your baby. But however long it does take, it's imperative that you let yourself fall head-over-heels for your baby says pediatrician and renowned author of many parenting books including "Touchpoints", Dr. T. Berry Brazelton."I like to think that every baby has a right to one or two people passionately in love with them. And if they have that then their futures are pretty much made. There may be some problems and deviations but at least they have a base for making it in this world."
Dr. Brazelton believes life is more difficult for children who never really bonded with a loving adult. "A baby who doesn't have even one person passionately in love with them is going to have a very tough time having a secure ego, feeling good about themselves, or of not being at the mercy of peer pressure. If they feel good about themselves then they can stand up for what they believe in and say no to pressures to try drugs and alcohol. But when a parent can't let themselves get immersed in the passion of falling in love, then this sense of self is what the child loses out on."
So go ahead. Fall in love with your newborn. It could be the start of something special!
Adapted from The Parent Report Radio Show. Any advice or information contained herein should never be a substitute for professional and/or medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. For more information please review Terms of Service.
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