Aguilera: 'Relationships need to grow'

Christina Aguilera has said that she and her husband make an effort to allow each other to grow as a couple and as individuals.

The 29-year-old, who has been married to Jordan Bratman for five years, also admitted that her relationship has experienced difficult times but their strength always brings them back together.

She told Cosmopolitan: "It's important to be open to growing together, and when the going gets tough, you have to see how you can make your relationship more special and how you can spend more quality time together. Everyone has rough patches, everybody grows and we all change. It's important to give each other room to grow and to accept them for who they are."

Aguilera, who gave birth to the couple's son Max in 2008, claimed that having their child has tightened the bond between the pair.

She added: "Having Max has brought us closer together. [Jordan] changed the first nappy while I was in bed recovering from my C-section and he's been so hands-on ever since. When I see them together it makes my heart sing and melt at the same time."

Aguilera recently revealed that marrying her husband has not altered the bond that the pair share.