There’s a magical bond between moms and newborns, in most cases. But as a new mother, it can be a bit of a shock at how hard it can be. Syncing with your child through skin contact and gentle movement is a great way to get through those bumps in the early days of motherhood.

Follow Cues from the Baby

A newborn baby can’t speak, but they can give you clues to what you need to do. Known as biobehavioral synchrony (say that drunk), you can build an early relationship and bond with your baby almost straight away. For example, you can verbally respond to their sounds and movement while keeping eye contact. It helps to understand the 4th trimester to build these rhythms confidently. But when you do, your baby will trust you, feel safe, and sleep longer!

Encourage Skin-to-Skin Touching

Newborns enjoy calm as their little eyes and ears are developing, and everything is turned up to 11. So it makes sense to find ways to calm them down and let them know everything is alright. Skin-to-skin contact is a wonderful way to bond with your new baby. But it is also powerful for calming them. Cuddling, massaging, and feeding bring them closer physically and emotionally. These will also help sync your heart rate and breathing while reducing stress hormones.

Moms and Newborns Must Engage Together

It is estimated that up to 85% of new moms get the baby blues. But there are some things you can do to punch postpartum blues right in the gut and get to spend precious moments with your baby. Newborns may not be able to speak, but they do respond to your actions. To form a relationship early on, it helps to engage with your baby as though they can understand and reply to everything you do. They will learn your voice when you sing lullabies and speak.

Practice Gentle Movements

Everyone knows that newborns love to be rocked back and forth, and this is a great way to help them stay calm and get to sleep. It also helps the baby to sync with your own natural rhythms, which is the key to baby and mother wellness. However, there are some other things you can do too. Gentle walking with the baby in arms will help promote calm. And you can take the baby out for a stroll. When sitting and relaxing, gentle swaying will also help them fall asleep.

Sleep when the Baby sleeps

Further to sleep, new mothers are often surprised at just how much they can lose. It’s an old one, but you should sleep when the baby sleeps. This will help sync your melatonin production and sleep cycles to that of the baby’s because they can’t do it for yours. Rest is critical for looking after a newborn, and you can also sneak in some extra self-care if you have the time. Small moments for a bubble bath, a quick snack, or even some TV can make a difference.

Summary

Following cues from the baby, such as responding to their cute little sounds, can help moms and newborns synchronize. Engaging with the baby through talk and singing will get them used to your voice to keep them calm. You can also sync by resting when the baby is asleep, too.