The simple activity to help dad bond with baby

As a new mum, your baby can feel like an extension of you. After all, if you’re breastfeeding you’re their sole food source – and between the cluster feeding and the cycle of feeding/napping, that means they’re on you for most of the day (and night!). 

They’ll also love sleeping near you, as just being able to smell you can calm a newborn baby who’s still working out that they’re not in their snug little womb space anymore. 

All this means that your partner can feel a bit left out in those early weeks when all bub wants to do is eat and sleep. It can leave them feeling on the outer – and also wear you out, as you need a bit of a break too! 

In a recent TMB TV live chat, sponsored by GAIA Natural Baby, Midwife Tylah gave some advice to help partners feel more helpful and connected with their baby in those early weeks. 

“The biggest thing that I do in the hospitals, that I love doing, is to make bath time dad’s domain – so that’s bath time and after bath time,” she said.

She explained that it’s a great idea to get your partner to do the first bath so they’ll feel confident doing it in future.

Watch the full episode – packed with lots of great pregnancy and birth advice – below. 

Midwife Tylah also suggested using a product that’s free from harsh chemicals and noted that many parents choose one that smells great too. 

Many Tell Me Baby reviewers recommend GAIA Natural Baby Sleeptime Bath as a great option. Free of soap, paraben and sulphates, the calming organic lavender and ylang ylang-scented wash is suitable for sensitive or eczema prone skin- and even for newborns. 

Read our tips on how to bathe your baby – and how often you might want to do it – here.  

And after the bath …

Midwife Tylah recommends massaging your baby after their bath, and said this is another great activity for partners to do.  

“You can get your partner to do that baby massage and that bedtime routine. That’s really something for them to look forward to, bathing baby and then giving that massage … it’s a special time,” she said.

Baby massage can help your baby relax (which is what you want before bedtime!), and can be a lovely bonding experience. However, if your baby gets upset or doesn’t seem to be enjoying it, stop the massage. (If you need tips on how to massage your baby, The Raising Children website has a great picture guide to help.) 

It’s best to use a simple oil or moisturiser with as few ingredients as possible, and to check that it’s free from mineral oil or paraffins. Tell Me Baby reviewers highly recommend  GAIA’s Natural Baby Massage Oil, giving it a 4.7 star rating out of 5. 

After your bub has had a soothing bath and massage, they’ll hopefully be relaxed and ready for a good sleep – leading to more sleep for you and your partner, too!