Hug Your Kid to Help Brain Development

Next time someone mentions you are going to ‘spoil’ your baby by holding them too much – or you are creating a needy child – you can tell them you are actually helping your child’s brain development. A recent study has shown hugging your baby can actually assist with important infant neurological development. Know more about it here.

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Hug Your Kid to Help Brain Development

According to Science Daily, researcher Dr. Nathalie Maitre from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio surveyed the brain responses of 125 infants to a puff of air. It was found preterm infants are particularly vulnerable for brain response to gentle touch. 

They also become increasingly vulnerable if they have to undergo painful medical procedures. Maitre explains it was surprising to discover a baby’s sense of gentle touch can be affected if they experience more painful procedures early in life.

Skin-to-Skin Contact for Preterm Babies

Ensuring preterm babies received skin-to-skin contact with parents and supportive touch, the researchers were able to change how the brain responded. The preterm babies who received skin-to-skin contact had similar brain responses to the full term babies. Showing gentle touch actually helps your baby’s neurological development. 

Based on these findings, new procedures are being investigated to ensure NICU babies receive gentle touch in order to experience its benefits on the brain. 

Even More of a Reason to Hug

You may not need more reasons to spend time holding your precious little one. However, given the recent study’s findings, if anyone tries to say you will spoil your baby, at least you can tell them you are actually helping your baby’s brain development. Hug your kid and let no one tell you it’s too much!