If you are adopting a baby or already have an adopted child, you may be wondering when you will bond with the child, and will it be easy? Here are three actions you can take to strengthen the bonding and facilitate a loving relationship between you and your child.

Learn to Love

Loving your child is the best way develop a strong bond. Love is a verb, so that means you must take action. Spend time with your child and do family-oriented activities together, such as going for walks and playing in the park. Reading bedtime stories together and making and eating meals with each other are some other activities to increase bonding.

Communication is so important. Talk lovingly to your adopted baby, and when he or she can talk, ask questions to find out what he or she is feeling. Remember that relationships take time and effort. Offering hugs and holding your child when he or she needs you is also important in forming a parent-child bond.

You need to be aware that showing love and respect to your child, as well as taking time out especially for him or her, are the best ways to build a meaningful relationship.This holds true whether you are blood related or not. Make sure your child knows that he or she is in a safe, loving environment.

Learn about His or Her Heritage

If your adopted child is of a different nationality, race, or religion than yours, do some research and find out about his or her background. Start a tradition or two that is practiced among your child's native country's people. Cook meals that he or she would have probably eaten in his or her country. 

Again, taking the time to show your child that you care about him and his ancestry will go a long way in helping you bond with one another and gain a mutual love and respect for one another. If your child genuinely does not seem interested in learning more about his or her heritage when he or she is young, do not force it. In time, your child will probably grow more curious and want to find out about where he or she came from. 

Don't Force it

If you feel like the bonding process is taking longer than it should, either for you or your adopted child, be patient. Know that parenting is difficult, and that there will be times you will wonder if the bonding will ever happen. Just continue parenting, and let it happen.

Set rules and boundaries for your adopted child. Structure and regular schedules help adopted children learn to be part of the family. This is especially true in cases where a baby or child is adopted and comes from an unstable background. Many children that are given up for adoption come from mothers who are unable to take care of their children for some reason, whether it be drug addiction, severe poverty, mental challenges, or any other number of reasons. Be firm, but loving with your child.

Remember that bonding emotionally takes work, but that you do not want to unnaturally or awkwardly force your child to bond with you. There will be ups and downs, good times and bad times, but if you love your child unconditionally and try to show him or her that you do, that is what truly matters in the end.

For more information, contact Family Creations Adoptions or a similar organization.