Touch can do a ton! Benefits of skin to skin care for babies is a clue to its potential

I love snuggling with my son...

…his soft skin brushing mine 🤱🏻

Skin to skin care is done keeping the baby unclothed on mom’s bare chest, sharing warmth and touch.

It has wonky benefits for both baby and mom:

Emotional regulation

• Releases the bonding hormone oxytocin, giving a sense of safety, relaxation and connection
• Improves mental health of baby and mom
• Babies sleep better and cry less

Helps in homeostasis

• Regulates body temperature, immune system, blood sugar, oxygenation, heart rate and breathing of baby

Breastfeeding

• Improves milk supply and success of breastfeeding

Growth

• Better digestion and improved weight gain
• Boosts brain development

Healing and pain relief

• Pain relief for baby and mom
• Reduced postpartum bleeding and blood pressure in mom

Initially this care was advocated for the first hour after birth and for premature babies.

It’s now known that it does amazing things for all babies, throughout infancy.

Food for thought: Wouldn’t this loving touch help older children & adults too?

After all, people of all ages need many of these same things!

PS. The whole family can give skin to skin care 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 though mom has a slight edge: )