I do not have an expert level understanding of what it means when doctors say “Bonding Time” when they refer to a time a newborn spends with his/her mama. However, since the arrival of my niece, I have heard this term being thrown around a lot and it got me curious. It turns out that the “Skin to Skin” and mama baby time are important parts of a newborn learning his/her new environment. It is when the baby lays down on the mom’s chest that they calm down. This is because of the mama’s heartbeat, a rhythm the baby has known and felt from the inside. In bringing the newborn close to the mama’s chest, it brings the baby comfort, peace, protection, and a sense of familiarity. In addition, it allows for the newborn baby to learn mama’s scent. The tone of voice and the scent become two of the ways that a baby recognizes his/her mom until they get past seeing shapes. Seeing this up-close and understanding the why behind some of the things that are done for a newborn got me thin