Baby Bonding Tips During the Work Week
Diapers don’t pay for themselves, but leaving your baby to go back to work can be agonizing. Will she forget your voice, or get more attached to her caregiver than you? No way, says Susan Wenner Jackson, Cofounder and Editor-in-Chief of Working Moms Against Guilt. “No one else can take your place,” she says. “You don’t have to be with your baby full-time to maintain that special bond.” Here, a few things you can do to maintain that attachment even while you’re punching the clock.
Maximize every minute
If you only get 30 minutes with your baby after work, make them count. “I think a solid bath time/bedtime ritual can be a wonderful way to wrap up the day—both for you as a working mom and your baby,” says Wenner Jackson. “You’ll need to make sure caregivers/partners know you want dibs on this part of the baby’s schedule, and have things organized so you can totally focus on your baby rather than finding a clean washcloth or getting the dishes done.”
Leave your scent behind
That tiny (adorable) nose is mighty strong, so babies are highly attuned to scent. Leaving behind something that smells like you can comfort your baby during the day and help him remain connected to you. Give the caregiver your sleep shirt or pillowcase to lay under baby during tummy time, or clutch one of his soft stuffed animals to your chest while you sleep so it will smell like you during play time.
Speak sweet nothings
You might shudder at the sound of your own voice recorded, but your baby won’t. Try creating recordings of yourself reading stories or simply talking to your baby. Ask your caregiver to play them during feedings or intermittently during the work day.
Schedule FaceTime…
If your job duties and proximity to your baby allow, try scheduling some personal time during the day. Ask your caregiver to bring your baby to your office during your lunch break, or meet them halfway for a quick snuggle. Naptime interfering? Talk to your boss about rearranging your work hours to take a long break that coincides with your baby’s waking hours.
…And FaceTime
Working parents everywhere rejoiced when the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines on screen time in 2016. While previous guidelines discouraged any screen time for kids under 2, the AAP now consider video chatting a safe activity for babies. While we don’t know exactly what a baby can understand about FaceTime, it can be incredibly comforting for you.
“Babies don’t really “miss” you when you’re at work, because they don’t have a sense of time,” Wenner Jackson says. Still, she knows firsthand how beneficial communication can be for a working parent’s peace of mind. “I used to like being able to call home and “talk” to my baby. Later, when our sitter would text me photos of my baby during the day, I found it reassuring that she was in good hands, and I could continue going about my day productively.”
Kathryn Walsh is a freelance writer specializing in parenting and travel topics. Her work has appeared on mom.me, TheBump.com, and USAToday.com.
