How to Maximize Skin-to-Skin Contact with Baby
Your baby is soft, snuggly and oh-so-loveable. It’s not hard to want to maximize skin-to-skin contact with baby. But did you know there are more ways to make it happen than just good old-fashioned holding?
Here are some other great ways to maximize skin-to-skin contact with baby:
Breastfeeding
The number one way of nourishing your baby doubles as our number one way to maximize skin-to-skin contact with baby. Breastfeeding can serve dual purposes and exponentially increase the benefits of both. While nursing, remove your top or completely fold down the top of your nursing cami while she is wearing only a diaper. This way your bodies can make more contact. Both skin-to-skin and breastfeeding promote improved brain development, physical growth, feelings of security, bonding and decreased postpartum depression. Also, skin-to-skin contact helps stimulate breast milk production.
Babywearing
You’re probably not going to wear your baby without a shirt on in public, but you can certainly do it at home. With just a nursing bra on yourself and a diaper on your baby, strap her into your sling or other baby carriers to do household chores. In public, you can still simulate skin-to-skin time through babywearing. Even with clothes on both of you, your baby feels your warmth, enjoys your smell and can hear your heartbeat, all of which makes her feel cozy inside. A nursing tank top is the perfect top for babywearing and maintaining skin-to-skin contact when you are out and about.
Lounging in Bed
Grab your favorite sleep and leisure bra and enjoy cuddle time with your baby in bed. You can lie down to rest, play and nurse while continuing skin-to-skin contact. Do be sure that if you doze off, your baby is safely in her own sleep space, free from blankets, pillows and other suffocation hazards.
Bonding with Dad
The benefits of skin-to-skin contact for your baby are not limited to your touch. Dads make great snuggle partners for their new loves and this special time can increase bonding. Encourage your husband to spend quality time with your little one to maximize skin-to-skin contact with baby.
Bathing
Many moms love bathing with their babies. In the early months, some babies are not too keen on bath time. But with mom submerged in water right along with her, everything feels a lot more comfortable. You can cradle your baby or lay her on your chest for a little aqua-themed skin-to-skin time.
How do you maximize skin-to-skin contact with baby?
Sources: Mama Natural and Fit Pregnancy
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