Do you know how profoundly positive touch impacts your baby’s growth and well-being? From the moment they enter the world, touch plays a vital role in their physical, emotional, and cognitive development. As Dr Ashley Montague once noted, human beings cannot survive without touch. It is a fundamental behavioural need that enables babies to thrive.

Touch: The First Sense to Develop

Touch is the earliest sense to develop, forming as early as 16 weeks in the womb. At birth, it is the most developed of all senses. Your baby, snug and cocooned during pregnancy, naturally craves that same sense of security and warmth in their new world.

Through nurturing touch, babies explore their environment, strengthen bonds with caregivers, and feel loved and protected. The benefits of positive touch extend well beyond infancy, influencing healthy attachment, emotional resilience, and social relationships into adulthood.

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Oxytocin: The Love Hormone

When you hold your baby close, whether through skin-to-skin contact, cuddling, breastfeeding, or baby massage, a remarkable process occurs: the release of oxytocin, also known as the Love Hormone.

This hormone fosters feelings of safety and trust, solidifying the bond between parent and child. For both babies and parents, nurturing touch helps reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), boost the immune system, and promote relaxation.

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Types of Positive Touch

Touch is a powerful form of communication between parent and baby. Whether it’s holding their tiny hands, gently rubbing their face, or engaging in baby massage, these moments help soothe, comfort, and convey your love.

As your baby grows, introducing different textures and materials during play helps stimulate sensory, language, and cognitive development. Simple acts of affection—such as cuddling, rocking, or a gentle tap on their bum—provide comfort, reassurance, and joy while strengthening the parent-child connection.

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Kangaroo Care: Life-Saving Touch

Touch isn’t just nurturing; it can be life-saving. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends immediate skin-to-skin contact, also known as Kangaroo Care, after birth—especially for premature babies. This practice, where a baby is placed directly on a parent's bare chest, provides essential benefits such as:

· Regulated temperature, heart rate, and breathing

· Reduced crying and pain

· Improved sleep cycles

· Enhanced breastfeeding success and milk supply

· Shorter hospital stays and reduced mortality rates

Kangaroo Care demonstrates how a parent’s embrace can literally save lives while fostering an unbreakable bond.

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Baby Massage: A Time-Honoured Tradition

Baby massage is a practice passed down through generations in many cultures, beginning from the first days of life. Science confirms the profound physical and emotional benefits of this gentle, loving touch.

Some of the benefits include:

· Improved digestion and relief from colic or constipation

· Better sleep quality and duration

· Strengthened immunity and circulation

· Enhanced bonding and attachment

· Support for social, cognitive, and physical development

Through massage, you can communicate with your baby, offering reassurance and love. Engaging with your baby through eye contact, conversation, and singing during a massage supports brain development and social skills.

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How to Incorporate Positive Touch Daily

Integrating nurturing touch into your routine is simpler than you think. Holding, rocking, bathing, and cuddling your baby are natural ways to show love and affection. Massage can become a cherished ritual that strengthens your bond while promoting relaxation and development.

The first three years of life are critical for brain development, and touch stimulates not only emotional well-being but also physical and sensory growth. Studies show that early experiences with touch can have a lifelong impact on physical and mental health, forming the foundation for secure, loving relationships.

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The Lifelong Rewards of Loving Touch

In the earliest years, your baby learns about love, security, and connection through your touch. The warmth of your embrace, the soothing rhythm of your heartbeat, and the gentleness of your hands create a world where they feel safe, nurtured, and ready to thrive.

So hold them close, hug them often, and cherish the moments of connection. The rewards will last a lifetime.

Karen Prunty, RCN, RGN, CIMI,NTMC Children’s Nurse & founder of Little Roo