According to medical experts, babies who fail to receive stimulation and love in the first year of their lives, are at risk of poor brain development.
“A foetus will have approximately 100 billion neurons in their brain, however these neurons are meaningless until after birth when the environment they are exposed to will influence their brain development, says Dr Cheryl Power — a clinical psychologist at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation.
Cuddles increase brain connections
According to neuroscientists and clinicians, loving relationships that are sensitive to a child’s needs influence the way the brain grows and can increase the number of connections between nerve cells.;
Research also shows that babies who are attended to promptly during the first six months cry and whinge less in the next six months and even later.
According to Power, infants need to be exposed to stimulation and social interaction to enable their brains to develop. “Mothers with mental health difficulties are compromised in how they are able to provide stimulation and how they are able to interact with infants. That will influence how a baby’s brain develops, the relationship between mother and baby and have a negative cycle,” she adds.
Is there a limit to the number of cuddles I can give?
Babies need to feel loved and safe, and that is why you shouldn’t believe the old wives tale that too many cuddles will make your baby needy. You can give as many cuddles as you want. This will offer reassuring contact on a regular basis and will enable your child to trust that you will always be there for him.
What is attachment parenting?
Attachment parenting is based on constant physical contact. According to researchers, babies who have been raised in this way are calmer and happier, and are said to grow up to become more sensitive and empathetic as adults.
This skin to skin contact also helps to re-create the close body contact for baby similar to that of being in mom’s womb. Kanagaroo care for premature babies has been found to help mantain body temperature, ward against infections and gain body weight quicker. This involves tucking baby under mom or dad’s t-shirt on the skin.
Another effective way to keep your baby close is to use a sling or carrier. So keep the hugs and cuddles going mom, there can never be too much.