Bonding with your newborn can be as simple as touching and talking. And then more touching and talking. Such tender beginnings need equally tender attention and the basic senses of touch and hearing as well as sight, smell and taste are the best places to start.
Babies tend to be very tactile and therefore need to be held and caressed frequently. Studies have shown that many newborns can actually lose the will to live if they are not handled often. Stroking their head, arms, legs and torso can also stimulate nerve endings while at the same time reassuring the child that they are connected. Even items placed in the mouth provide tangible evidence of both the outside world and their bond with parents and other family members.
Words may come across as so much noise until the particulars of language are learned, but tone of voice is always important. If anyone has ever seen the movie "Three Men and a Baby" there is a wonderful scene where Tom Selleck's character is reading from some sort of mechanic's manual to the tiny infant girl in a deep, soothing voice. His comment that it's not important as to what is said but the way it is said is absolutely correct. Soft, firm, peaceful timbre is best.
Crooning lullabies is another activity to cherish as both parent and child build an affinity through melody. Playing recorded music for your child is helpful, too, but for language advancement as well as one-on-one bonding time, using one's own voice has far more impact and is in many ways more stimulating to young sensibilities. Also, don't be concerned if you can't carry a tune. The fact that this is your voice which your baby is hearing is far more relevant than whether particular notes are being reached.
Sight for the newborn tends to be blurry at first, but allowing them to see you is still important. Faces tend to be of supreme interest to most babies, especially visages that match familiar voices. Making odd faces can be a good way to teach infants various expressions and having something so interesting to look at may also aid in developing better focus both visually and mentally. Plus, there is the gratification of gaining your child's first of many smiles at your antics.
Smell and taste are highly acute at this stage so once foods or flavors are introduced it is best to keep them bland. Perfumes and other scents should be kept to a minimum to avoid over-stimulating a child's senses. Allergies may play a role in some families as well, so some caution should be entered when introducing your baby to new odors and tastes. Your infant will let you know what they do and do not like, so allow some experimentation as long as it's not too much all at once.
In the end, the most important factor is to spend plenty of time interacting with your baby, especially during the earliest stages of development. Plenty of variations on this theme have been researched and recommended, but at the core of all of this information it all really boils down to putting in the time and effort of being there with your child. For any lasting relationship, the first impressions and steps are the most important. Whether tossing baby in the air to singing them asleep to baby's first solid meal, every precious moment spent is time well invested.
