The Importance of Touch

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

26 Jun 2009 05:10 AM

What is generally the quickest way to sooth a baby? Pick her up of course! Touch plays such an important part of the parent-child bond, not to mention its almost miraculous ways of reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and producing feel good hormones.

While many people may not agree with me, I am a big believer in carrying your baby and maintaining physical contact as much as possible. True, your baby need some time to explore on her own, but for very young babies, especially, there is nothing like human contact.

Numerous studies have shown that touch is as necessary as nutrition to a baby. Babies who have a lot of skin to skin contact with a caregiver and are held a lot tend to thrive, gain weight, cry less and bond socially. Attend to a babies basic needs for food and changing but ignore the baby? Chances are good that it will simply give up and perish. Human contact is imperative to thrive.

There are many ways to foster touch with your baby. One of the easiest is to take advantage of warmer weather and dress your baby lightly in a diaper with or without a t-shirt. Then place your baby against your chest. Dads can go bare chested and moms can do the same or wear a nursing bra to maximize skin to skin contact.

Infant massage is a wonderful way to touch your baby. It will reduce stress for you both. Get a good book on infant massage, or take advantage of the many classes that are offered. Many hospitals and birthing centers offer instruction in infant massage.

Lay your baby on your lap with her legs toward your belly and her head toward your knees. Gently stroke her head while talking to her in a soft voice. Most babies absolutely adore having their head gently rubbed. You may even see him sigh.

Take a cue from the attachment parenting movement and wear your baby in a sling, even if you are just walking around your own home. Parents who wear their babies tend to touch and kiss them more, probably because the babies are in such close proximity.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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