Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a new parent, you will agree with me that baby hugs are simply the best. Personally, I’ve found there is nothing like a hug from my children to lift my mood, especially after a terrible day.
Now, did you know that science says that baby hugs are essential for both parents and child?
Babies have an innate need to be nurtured, love and developattachement and trustHuggies Study showed
Off note, my personal observation is that my wife’s need for hugs is similar to my children’s.
I’m not sure you need science to feel the need to hold your baby, but it can be nice to have a response for those nosy neighbours or relatives who tell you to just “put that baby down already”.
Before I look at the benefits of baby hugs (both scientifically and otherwise), let us look at the different kinds of baby hugs.
The different types of baby hugs
The first hug
A parent never forgets the first time they hold their baby; after a usually difficult birth, you have to wait a few hours to see the child, so imagine how anxious and ready you will be when it finally happens. It was the most powerful moment of our lives, and it will certainly be yours if you are yet to have a child. Everything they say about how it feels like to hold your child in your arms for the first time is true. The overwhelmingly warm feeling does not compare with anything else in the world.
Scientifically, it has been stated that hugs release chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. The chemicals (dopamine and oxytocin) released into the brain during hugs are known for generating excitement, trust and affection in us. This probably explains the overwhelming feelings I experienced when I hugged both of my babies that first time! I still remember that moment of holding them worried I would drop this precious, most perfect bundle, looking amazed on how perfect they were.
The kangaroo care
This is a skin-to-skin contact between your chest and your baby’s front. If your baby is sick or very small, you may feel like you’ll hurt him or her, but you won’t. Your baby knows your breathing, rhythms of your speech, touch, and scent. Studies have shown that holding your baby can enhance breastfeeding as it develops the parent-child bond.
The benefits of the kangaroo care include:
- It helps regulate a baby’s breathing and heart rates.
- It ensures that your baby spends more time sleeping deeply.
- It maintains a baby’s body temperature.
- It encourages successful milk production and breastfeeding for mothers.
- It helps you baby spend more time being quiet and alert instead of crying.
- It encourages weight gain in babies. This is because when a baby depends on the parent’s body to stay warm, it uses less calories to stay warm on its own.
The walking and rocking hug
This one is popular; you hold the baby, while walking, rocking or dancing, moving carefully to help put a baby to sleep. Having to do the dancing or rocking with bent knees make the thighs of a mother or father strong. This hug according to science also activates the protective instinct that every parent knows very well.
The first time you are hugged back
There would come a magical day when it is not just you doing the hugging. And trust me when I say there is nothing more magical than a baby hugging you back. Words cannot begin to explain how I felt when I got my first hug back.
Nothing beats that moment when a baby does that sigh and tuck its head beneath your chin before putting an arm around your neck. Absolutely nothing! I swear I can still feel the first time my daughter hugged me back.
The first step hug
This is a massive one! It is a very distinctive hug. It is exhilarated hug you get right after your baby takes his or her steps, while you swoop him or her up, congratulating them with joy at their success. This hug is unique becomes you feel a combination of terror and delight at this latest development.
The boo-boo hug
Walking brings about falling, and plenty of boo-boos. And the best way to relieve those pains is to kiss and hug them away. Studies have also shown that babies feel less pain during paediatric procedures like vaccinations when they are hugged, so it makes sense that hugging a baby makes them feel better when they get an Ouchy.
What does the science say?
The positive brain chemicals that relieve pain (the endorphin in this case), are the reason why a boo-boo hug actually does make a baby feel better.
The goodnight hug
This is definitely the favourite one for a lot of folks. Now that my son is slightly older, this one is now like a cuddle, but it is still a sacred time of the day where we cuddle/hug while reading or talking before sleep time.
Probably due to oxytocin released in the brain, these hugs tend to make me feel more strongly connected to my daughter and son, building a stronger bond for us, as the days go by. These are my favourite moments of each day, and it can be yours.
Why you as a parent need baby hugs
Even though the science points to the numerous benefits hugs have on babies, there is a lot of evidence that suggests parents do better with more hugs too.
So, ask yourself, “Have I had enough hugs today?”
Baby hugs are beneficial to a parent in so many ways. Below are some of the top reasons why:
They are free:
A hug from a baby does so much for us providing moments of sheer parental bliss, and it is usually free.
They are often unexpected:
… And exhilarating.
You never get advance notice on a baby hug. You could be adjusting your baby’s shirt and, bam! You get a hug. Bound to make you smile for hours.
They offer validation:
When you get a hug from your little one, be it the hair grabbing type, the two arm one, or the I’ m-going-to-eat-your-noise’ type, every effort or hard work you’ve put into the parenting job gets validated immediately.
All the late-night walks to get the little one to sleep is made better thanks to one hug. What about the desperate searches for lost pacifiers or the baby food smeared on your shirt? All forgotten.
You understand that you are your child’s world:
Hugs let you know that your kid understands who you are: the one person that he or she depends on to be happy and healthy. Babies cannot say “Thank you”, but the truth is, a hug is way better.
Hugs make parenting worthwhile:
Parenting can be stressful; there’s no denying it. Which each day comes a new challenge. To someone else, a child’s hug may not seem like much of a reward for all the stress, but parents (mothers especially) know that baby hugs are more precious than diamonds. They erase the stress of every late-night sleeper change, every fussy feeding session, and every diaper change.
Hugs recharge parent’s batteries:
Just like reducing your blood pressure, you would find out that hugs from your little one would help keep you going. They are important especially for those days you just want to drop from exhaustion.
They help reinforce and build the parent-child bond:
There’s a common trick suggested by marriage counsellors to couples in distress: daily hugs. It is no accident that these hugs help bring the couple closer and reinforce their marital bond. This is no different for parents and their kids. Hugs on a daily basis tell both of you how much both of you mean to each other.
Baby drools are blissful too (wait… hear me out):
As a parent, I know the joy that comes with having a shoulder soaking wet from the drool of my baby’s hugs. And trust me when I say it is not in any way as disgusting or disdainful as the normal adult spittle.
Hugs are the best way to say “I love you” without using words:
Every human being needs to be told those three magical words once in a while. Since a baby cannot say them now, their hugs are the perfect substitute. However, when they first tell you those three little words, well……. I’d not want to spoil the surprise for you if you haven’t heard them. Those that have, know what it feels like.
Baby hugs reduce blood pressure:
And yes, science backs this fact up. Even when I’ve had the worst day ever, hugging my child instantly calms me, and when the little guy initiates the hug, I could stay in my rocking chair holding him for hours.
What about babies? Why do they need hugs?
It helps them grow smarter:
Brain growth is enhanced by human touch. Every child needs plenty of sensory stimulation for normal development, and hugging is one of the most essential stimulations needed to grow a healthy brain and a strong body.
It helps them grow:
Physical contact is also important for a child’s physical growth. Studies show that hugging can instantly boost the level of oxytocin. When oxytocin is increased, several growth hormones, such as insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) and nerve growth factor (NGF), are increased as well. As a result, the nurturing touch of a hug enhances a child’s growth.
It stops temper tantrums:
Hugs are great for a child’s emotional health. Nothing calms a baby throwing a tantrum faster than a giant hug from a parent.
So, what are you waiting for?
Give a baby a hug today, if it’s not yours, make sure you ask first!
