Dads often feel as though they’re on the sidelines a bit during the pregnancy and many times they think that feeling will instantly go away when the baby arrives. But since mom and baby have a built-in bonding time during breastfeeding, dad sometimes needs to actively seek out activities and times of day that are special for just him and his brand new little one. Putting yourself in charge of baby’s bedtime routine whenever possible is a great way to get some all-important daddy bonding time.
After your baby has been breastfed and is ready for bed, dad, you can take baby into the nursery and spend some time rocking, talking and snuggling with her. The bedtime routine is a very important one for babies and you will create a strong bond if your baby comes to know you as the one who holds her and soothes her before she goes to sleep each night. Keep the lights low in the nursery, speak in hushed tones, read her a book (it’s never too early to start a reading routine), and rub her back. Your baby will associate your voice and touch with comfort, which goes a long way toward cementing your bond. Then place her in her crib when she’s very sleepy but while she’s still a little bit awake. This way she’ll get used to drifting off on her own without someone having to hold her. You’ll be very grateful for that later on.