From an ability to relax to ESP to a love of song

Ability to relax
Yes, your mind is constantly racing with all you have to do. But there's a lot of "downtime" with a baby. The first year is made up of countless hours just sitting, holding, and staring. Being in the moment is key, because you won't have these delicious moments for long. "You've got to be able to surrender," says Margaret Ludlow, a mom of five in Provo, Utah. "Now that my youngest is almost three, I miss when they fall asleep on your chest." Research shows that babies have six different cycles throughout the day, including a quiet alert time when they just look around. This is when your baby is concentrating on your face, when you can hold him quietly and feel the love. These moments are just as important as when you're stimulating him.

Love of song
Your baby adores the sound of your voice  -- he starts listening to it in the womb. Jolie McRae, mom of Karly in Oakland, California, says she can turn her 21-month-old's mood with a well-placed song. "I'll make up words for whatever we're doing, and it helps Karly focus on my song instead of getting buckled into her car seat," she says. "It feels silly to sing 'Buckle up my baby, buckle up my baby, buckle up my baby for a ride in the car,' but it's easier on my ears than her screaming." The next time your baby needs soothing, give in to your inner Beyoncé. It's the most natural thing in the world. And your devoted audience doesn't care how tone-deaf you think you are.

ESP
This may seem like the hardest trait to get, but you probably already have it. You're connected to your baby in more than just an emotional way. You know when something's not right. When you wake from a dead sleep at 2 a.m. and sprint to your baby's room, there's a good reason for it. Listen to your gut  -- it's telling you something and it's usually correct. "During pregnancy, mothers and fathers both change," says Dr. Greene. "It's a deep, instinctual, hormonal connection to your baby that you should pay attention to." Trust that you'll know what your baby and you need, and when you'll need it. You can still listen to the advice, but use it to inform your gut instinct and let that be your ultimate guide.

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