The Importance of Touch

Create An Unbreakable Bond

Very few things in child rearing are more important than a strong, loving connection between mother and child. One of the most powerful ways of forging this relationship is through touch and massage. Research has found that bonding through touch not only brings the two of you closer together, but this positive attachment also influences later development, playing a role in how your baby will relate to others, develop language skills, and build self-esteem. Here are a few key signs that will let you know the bond between you is growing even stronger:

• Longer gazes—All babies are naturally curious and like to look at people and objects around them. But when your baby feels connected to you, you’ll notice a difference in the way she looks at you. As she becomes more engaged, she’ll begin to make frequent eye contact with you. Don’t worry if each gaze doesn’t last very long. Babies need to look away to process information, so it’s perfectly natural for them to make eye contact, look away, and then make eye contact once again
• More vocalizations—Whether your baby is laughing, gurgling, or just babbling away, these sounds are a clear indication of a thriving bond. Your baby learns by imitating you and will experiment with facial expressions and sounds. The more positively you react to baby’s “babbling,” the more she will “talk” back to you. The language you and your baby share helps teach her the rhythm of conversation and forms the basis for her future language development
• More reaching out to you—Reaching out can mean any number of things, from “give me a hug” to “come closer” to “I’m happy right now.” But in all instances it signals a deep connection. Your positive reactions encourage your baby to reach for you with more purpose as she gains awareness and control of her movements and body—a significant milestone in baby’s development
• Brighter smiles—Touching your baby can actually lead her to smile more often, which reflects the strength of your bond. As your baby grows, you’ll also notice that these first smiles will give way to smiling in response to you and in anticipation of you. All these smiles show that baby is becoming more secure in her world and is ready to explore and learn about the world beyond

The bond between you and your baby has the power to nurture both of you in countless ways. Every day is an opportunity to bring the two of you even closer. All the little everyday things you love to do together—touching, gazing, and cuddling—really do strengthen that connection and help your baby grow in the process. So trust your instincts and have fun together, because when it comes to bonding, you and your baby will benefit today, tomorrow, and forever.