Babies & daddies

She’s daddy’s little girl alright and, with our bonding tips for fathers, she really will be eating out of his hand in no time…

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0-6 MONTHS

Your partner and your newborn started bonding long before birth. Research shows babies can hear low-frequency voices well from inside the womb, so all those dad-to-bump chats have already made an impact!

Touch is the first form of communication your little one will understand, so skin-to-skin contact between your baby and her dad during her first few days is vital. She already recognises your feel and smell, so now it’s your partner’s turn. Encourage him to bathe her—it’s a great way to develop his confidence, plus studies show that babies who are bathed regularly by their dads are more likely to make lasting friendships in later life.

Expressing your breastmilk is a great way to get your partner to feed your baby and help strengthen the bond between them. Incidentally, mums who feel their partner is supportive of breastfeeding are much more likely to breastfeed their baby for longer—keep those cups of tea and back rubs coming!