Bonding

Bonding can be understood as the process of developing a relationship or attachment between two people. One type of bonding is the creation of a caring, nurturing relationship between the primary caregiver and a child. This process can begin during pregnancy for the biological mother or after birth for the father and other caregivers. Often, the process of bonding is referred to as “falling in love” with the baby. Some parents report that the bond with their child was instantaneous; others say that the process may take days, weeks, or months. It is the quality of the relationship that makes the difference, not the amount of time it took for the relationship to develop. Notably, bonding describes a one-way connection from parent or primary caregiver ...