Youâ re about to meet a brand-new person. A person with whom youâ ll have one of the most important relationships of your lifeâ your child.

Pediatrician, neonatologist, and mom of 3, Joanna Parga-Belinkie encourages you to tune out the elaborate registry lists, overly detailed birth plans, and other peopleâ s expectations and focus on what is most importantâ building a deep and intentional bond with the remarkable little person joining your family.

The connection between you and your newborn will shape their biochemistryâ the bedrock of the person they will become. Experiencing delivery, breastfeeding, crying, and sleep (or lack thereof) together are the building blocks of bonding, safety, and attachment. Dr. Parga-Belinkieâ s relatable and humorous guidance will help you make the most of the fleeting newborn period, ensuring that the time you and your baby spend together will set you on the path to a strong and loving lifelong relationship.

â â ¦[Y]our relationship [with your newborn] begins on day 1. It is forever forged the second your newborn grasps your fingers and senses you are someone uniquely special in their lives. The moment you realize your heart is now on the outside of your body, you are forever committed to being a protective force in their life.â Â
â from the foreword by Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MSEd, FAAP, author of Lighthouse Parenting