Why Do Babies Love to Be Cuddled?

Cuddling your baby is an important part of how much you care for him or her, especially during the early days. Just imagine that soft touch of your baby’s skin. Doesn’t it make you fall in love with the kid right away? Yes, it does. Parents are always in love with their babies and try the organic baby skincare products to make sure that the little munchkins stay in the best shape and look cuter than ever. 

Studies have shown that is has a long-term impact on their development and health. You might have often seen that when a child is born, the first thing your doctor does is skin-to-skin contact between the baby and the mother.

On the other hand, there are people who might point you out that holding your baby a lot will spoil them, make them clingier. Don’t listen to them! Do you know, cuddling your child is not only beneficial for them but for you as well? The National Health System conducted a study in Washington, D.C., which showed that cuddling your child can lower down the stress level in mothers. 

Touch is one of the first senses that we develop before all our other senses. Supportive touch can actually have a positive impact that adds a sense of social-emotional connection in the baby. Children who don’t experience touch have been found to have a relatively lower level of oxytocin and vasopressin, for your knowledge, these are two hormones among humans that play an important role in stress and social behaviors. 

Benefits of cuddling with your baby

Everyone who has ever snuggled with newborns knows how sweet and amazing it can be. The delicious smell of their baby powder and that soft baby skin is just a heavenly feel. Other than that, it turns out that baby cuddling has been backed up by science. Some of the few benefits of why babies love to cuddle and why is it beneficial for them have been listed below. 

Regulates their bodies

Another name for snuggling is called Kangaroo care. Snuggling helps vulnerable babies regulate their bodies and stabilize their body temperature soon after birth. When a baby’s skin is wet, it loses up to 2 to 3 degrees of body temperature. Whereas holding them close will keep them warm. Preemies who have had a lot of physical contact with their caregivers had more sorted out sleep patterns than the babies that didn’t have that luxury. 

It promotes bonding

The baby that has just come out of a warm womb and entered an unfamiliar world has new surroundings including sounds and lights. A sense of touch encourages their brains to other senses. It regulates their breathing and heart rate as well as directing their blood sugar to an accurate level. Cuddles make babies improve their immune system from infections as they are completely exposed to a new environment right after birth. Babies cry less and become calmer when held close to the chest in a cuddle immediately. 

Easier Breastfeeding

Skin-to-skin cuddle contact can be used to help resolve latch problems among women who are in their postpartum for several weeks or months. It helps diminish away stress in babies who happen to be reluctant to allow anyone who tries to fix their latch. A cuddling or breastfeeding connection is one of the major reasons why babies should be doing skin-to-skin for at least the first hour after birth. Their baby-friendly initiative helps boost breastfeeding support. 

It aids in neurodevelopment

To help reach a healthy weight and keep your child’s development on track, mothers are advised to keep their babies close in a cuddle during the first year. It helps in developing a higher IQ level and general cerebral development. It is socially beneficial as well because it reduces hyperactivity and aggression while lowering absence at school. Physical affection ultimately helps older children feel safe and loved. So, go give your child a little hug and let him know you are there! It will work wonders for their neurological cycle. 

Self-Soothing

Have you seen babies showing extra affection towards that soft fluffy toy that you got them? That my friend is a whole new story. If your child is seen showing fondness towards a teddy or any other favorite soft toy, then let it be because it will help them in developing social skills. Babies are new to the world and it might feel uncertain for them to have so many unfamiliar faces around them all the time. Babies try to self-sooth themselves by cuddling their favorite toy while they sleep because it feels familiar than everything else around them and gives them a sense of reassurance when they are scared. The warmth of that toy offers them comfort and security which helps them sleep better. 

The Final Word

Even as adults, sometimes we want to be hugged or cuddled. Cuddling or snuggling helps convey what we can’t say in words sometimes like give you a sense of security or telling someone you love them or sometimes a simple hug can lower your stress level and help you sleep better. Connecting with people, be it older or younger kids on a level as small as just a cuddle, can lead to happiness.