8 Benefits of Touch
An increasing body of evidence is showing that touch is a vital sense and one that is pivotal to the social, emotional and physical development of children. It is well known that babies love to be held and cuddled and for good reason – there are an incredible number of benefits of touch.
In a human embryo and of the five senses, touch is the first to be developed and, when the baby is born, the most developed of the senses. Following the birth of a baby, why is touch so important?
#1: As humans, we are tactile creatures and it seems that there is a direct relationship between the amount and quality of tactile stimulation that a person receives and their development from birth.
#2: Baby massage is one of the best and most beneficial ways for touch to occur. Following some training, a parent is better skilled at massaging their baby using techniques that are soothing, comforting and relaxing. Baby massage oil can help a parent deliver a massage that is enjoyed by both the baby and parent.
Some research suggests that massage is effective in stimulating nerves within the brain that encourage food absorption and thereby help the baby to gain weight more quickly. Also, baby massage has been shown to reduce levels of stress hormones and thereby enhance the immune function of the baby.
#3: Because our touch receptors are contained in all parts of our skin, the extent of touch that is experienced by our bodies is more than the other senses, which are centralised in the head. The simple and everyday act of touching skin leads to emotional and hormonal reactions. Touch also produces endorphins, chemicals produced by the brain that bring about feelings of happiness and reduction of pain. By skilfully massaging your baby, you are assisting the production of endorphins.
#4: One of the possible benefits of baby massage is that it may play some role in furthering your child’s intellectual development. Infant massage helps to stimulate your child’s nervous system and fosters brain development. Some research shows that when babies have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood, they achieve better results in tests of their mental and motor abilities.
#5: Although touch is beneficial for all babies, it is especially important for premature babies. Babies that are massaged have been shown to gain weight far more quickly than similar babies who are not massaged. More rapid weight gain often leads to premature babies spending less time in hospital.
#6: The power of touch has beneficial effects for mothers and fathers too. As well as calming and soothing a baby, there is some evidence to show that administering massage helps a baby to fall into a deeper and more restful sleep. In order to help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep, massage is frequently more effective and appropriate than rocking a baby to sleep.
#7: Postnatal depression is a problem for many new mothers and the good news is that touch and baby massage is significant in overcoming this type of depression. Mothers that experience postnatal depression often find that their feelings and mood improves when baby massage is used as a component of their daily routine.
#8: Dads also can deliver beneficial touch with positive results. It is not uncommon for babies who have been massaged by their fathers to make eye contact, smile, touch and vocalise with their fathers.
Touch is an incredibly powerful sense. When used with babies, infant massage carries many desirable benefits such as: a calmer baby, increased bonding between parent and child and a positive influence on a child’s social, emotional and physical development.