Nursery® Water Partners

Nothing compares to the incredible bond you have with your baby. She lights up when she sees you and calms down at the sound of your voice. This connection is the joy of your life—until the day she won’t even let you go in the next room without crying and clinging.
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Are you wondering whether your baby will be right-handed or left-handed? Be patient; it may be months or years before you know for sure. Most babies start showing a preference for reaching for things with their right hands between six and nine months, but it’s not until they’re 18 months or older that they start using their preferred hand more consistently. By age three or four, their handedness should be fairly evident. If it’s not, you may want to talk to your pediatrician.

Source: “How Handedness Develops in Infants,” by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P., www.drspock.com, June 10, 2001

Touch is your baby’s primary sense, and research shows it is as essential to development and well-being as food. In addition to being a natural way to show love, the emotional bond that comes from touch helps your infant develop coping skills so he can deal with stress, regulate emotions and increase resilience. Bonding rituals like baths and gentle massages help him feel safe and trust that even when you’re not around, such as at bedtime, you’ll be there to reconnect when he needs you.

Source: “Bonding With Baby Through Touch,” by Dr. Caron B. Goode, founder of the Academy for Coaching Parents International, www.family.go.com, accessed August 13, 2007