Bonding with your baby begins right after they’re born, even in the NICU! It can happen in so many ways. Bonding helps baby feel safe, secure, and loved. It’s a process that can take time, but taking little steps every day, even when they’re in the NICU, can make a big difference.
Here are some activities to engage and help calm baby while they’re in their crib. Remember, every baby is different, and in the NICU their needs may vary. So always ask baby’s healthcare provider what is safe for them to do.
Activities include:
• Calming Baby #1 – helps to calm baby so they reach an alert state and are ready to play.
• Calming Baby #2 – helps to calm baby so they reach an alert state and are ready to play.
• Crib Find – helps work on vision and tracking, and engage with you.
• Get On Down – helps work on head control, strengthens core muscles, engage with you, and explore their world in a new way.
• Side to Side – helps work on their vision and tracking, bringing their hands together or to their mouth, and reaching.
• Calm Spaces – helps to calm baby so they reach an alert state and are ready to play.