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 bond with baby while you are sitting down. 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:
- Face-to-Face – helps baby work on their head control, strengthen core muscles, and bond with you.
- Getting to Know Baby – helps to calm baby so they reach an alert state and are ready to play.
- Lap Hold – helps baby reach an alert state so they’re ready to play; work on vision, tracking, and head control; and engage with you.
- Looking at You – helps baby work on vision, tracking, and eye contact; and engage with you.
- Rattle Up and Down – helps baby work on vision, tracking, eye contact, and head control; and engage with you.
- Side Lying – helps calm baby so they reach an alert state and are ready to play, work on bringing their hands together, and on bringing their hands to their mouth.
- Swaddle and Sit – helps baby reach an alert state so they’re ready to play, work on their head control, strengthen core muscles, and work on vision including eye contact and tracking.
- Swaddle-Up – helps calm baby so they reach an alert state and are ready to play. Watch to see how to play these games with baby!
Watch to see how to play these games with baby!