First Love

You’re the very first person your baby will have a relationship with, and your love will help build her world

LOOKING at your baby in your arms, it’s crazy to think she’s going to have a life that’s shaped by relationships with all sorts of people you don’t yet know. From the connections she’ll make with school friends to those she might one day create with her own children, these bonds will play a vital part in what makes her personality. But right now, you’re the centre of her universe, and the very first person she’ll have a relationship with. You are her first love.

And it’s from the bond she makes with you that she’ll learn how to handle all those future connections as she grows. Research suggests that the quality of the relationships in your child’s early years will affect almost every aspect of her later development, from her self confidence to her motivation to learn and her ability to forge friendships. Yep, being the most important person in her life is a big deal!

By understanding how your baby bonds with you, you can help these skills develop. And as in any relationship, the moment true love strikes is different for everyone: some mums feel a strong bond growing with their bump, some find love at first sight happens at birth, while for others it forms and strengthens over the next days and months. Attachment is based on familiarity, so simply being with your baby grows your bond.