Moms don’t get to hog all the bonding time with those adorable newborns, unsurprisingly dads want a slice of the action too. Not only will this help your partner to bond with the new baby and build his parenting confidence, it will also give you a much-needed chunk of time to yourself. You could have a bath, read a book or take a nap (obviously the nap will take priority here). Here are a few ideas for daddy and baby activities:
- Taking a walk
A walk on a nice day is pretty much the perfect daddy and baby activity. He can get his adorable baby all snuggled up in the sling and set off into the fresh air with his baby at kissing height (what could be better?). Being in a sling allows the baby to experience the world just as his daddy experiences it. Dad will be able to chat away happily to the baby, pointing out things of interest and generally keeping baby entertained as they enjoy a walk together. If the baby falls asleep, he’ll have that added joy of feeling like a baby whisperer, who doesn’t love that?
- Socialising
It’s not just mamas who can enjoy a coffee morning, dads can have gatherings too. Encourage your partner to meet up with his friends who have kids too. Together they can encourage their kids to form friendships, whilst sharing the highs and lows of fatherhood. It’s not just moms who love to chat, dads can learn a lot from each other as well.
- Attending a group
In fact, because it’s well known that dads love to socialize, there are now plenty of local meetups for dads. These tend to take place on the weekend and allow dads a chance to get together with their kids and meet other families. They say it takes a whole village to raise a child, so encourage your partner to get out there and find some villagers. If there isn’t a group locally, suggest to your partner that he sets one up.
- Baby massage
Baby massage encourages optimum health, relaxation and bonding. It’s also a great way to boost your parenting confidence. If your partner is out at work all day and then struggles with the baby when he gets home, he might benefit from a baby massage class to help build his confidence. There are classes he can attend to learn techniques or he could simply watch instructional videos online. Once he’s mastered the moves, a massage can become a part of his daily routine, allowing him ample opportunity to bond with his baby.
Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
