The Importance of Touch

Touch is something that cannot be underestimated. It can have so many negative connotations, but loving touch can make a world of difference to our babies.

One of the most important experiences for your baby’s happy development is your loving touch. It is critical to a baby’s growth, communication and learning.

Touch is our first language. Touch is the first sense to develop. Touch has been shown to improve mental development and increase alertness and attentiveness. Touch is the "mother of all senses."

Oxytocin is a happy hormone that we often learn a lot about when expecting a child. Especially if we become overdue and are trying to find ways to help encourage baby out ! We hear cries of "go and cuddle another baby, it produces oxytocin!" (although during the Covid era unfortunately this was no longer an option).

Oxytocin is produced in fantastic quantities during a massage as it is produced when the skin is stimulated.

Serotonin is another happy hormone and producing it also lowers the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in our bodies. Research has linked low levels of serotonin with SIDS, aggressive behaviour and depression.

In recent times, many hospitals and birth centres now place newborns on the mother's or father's chest or abdomen to give them as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. This is the first sense our baby will experience, so it can be especially important after a traumatic birth.

One major study concluded that premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and were ready to go home from hospital earlier those who were not massaged. Baby Massage is a wonderful experience for both you and baby. What are you waiting for?