Bonding With Your New Baby.
Eye contact is an emotional connection and is actually one of your babys first milestones!
Have you locked eyes with your baby and felt an emotional connection, a warm sense of bonding with your baby, just between the two of you?
I remember when i was feeding and it felt so good to be holding the girls with them being so close and us gazing into eachothers eyes! Little did i know this was actually a benefit to their development!
Making eye contact with your new baby will help them to form a stronger sense of safety and is key for their brain development. The right eye to left eye theory exists and did you know we tend to use our right eye to look into their left eye? This only makes the bonding and security stronger! Your baby will start to take in information and learn from you. Making connections between expressions and feelings as a way to communicate. They will start to see smiles and happily recieve them before mirroring them back to you. We all love to see our baby smile!
If your baby is feeling tired then dont expect too much eye contact, they might be overstimulated and unabel to hold a gaze. If you think about the brain developing and how much they need to take in, even the stimulation of looking and seeing can be tiring for them.
Dont feel rushed to notice the changes but below is a guide to when you can expect the gazes to change:
The first 7 hours after birth, your newborn baby will take an interest in your face. You should try to hold them as close as you can to increase the bonding expereince for you both. This will also serve to help with the oxytocin levels in your body needed for feeding and general piece of mind.
6-10 weeks old your baby will start to intentionally look at your and will then begin to hold your gaze, you may notice their eyes widening at this point as they continue to directly look at you.
3 months old - when you move away from your baby or walk around the room, your baby around this time should be able to follow your movements. They then wont take their eyes off you! You baby can also start to recognise colour now and may start to look and reach for something they want to touch.
9-11 months old, your baby is able to follow your gaze perhaps to an object or around the room or even to another person. They would have learnt that eyes are made for seeing at this age!
Ways you can make eye contact with your baby and some ideas!
Cuddling baby in nice and close during feeding.
Hold your baby’s gaze. You can be the last to look away.
Your baby may do this more if they are happy so dont push it when they are tired or hungry! Save it for the calmer times during the day.
Sing to baby or massage baby when you have caught their eye. Make the closeness an experience for you both.
Changing your babys nappy takes place alot! Try to calm them down if they need it with humming or exaggerated songs.
If you have any concerns around your baby meeting the above milestones, just remember that every baby is different and although this is a guide, if you are concerned reach out to a healthcare provider and ask for some guidance.