Do You Know The Amazing Benefits of Hugging Babies?

When Little Miss A was just a few months old, I remember someone telling me that hugging babies and carrying them too often would spoil them. I was honestly surprised that such a belief still exists. The idea that showing affection to a baby could have negative effects felt difficult to accept. For my own peace of mind and emotional balance, I chose not to argue. I have always believed that not every opinion deserves a reaction. When you do not agree with someone, sometimes the best response is to stay calm and trust your parenting instincts.

When Miss A had started walking and running, she would come running to us from somewhere and give a tight hug and kiss to us in her own unusual style. That undoubtedly was and now when she is 5 it still is the best part of our day.To date, she loves to hug and kiss us and I do not think I need a reason to hug her. I am sure many would agree it hugging your child is therapeutic. 

You can read the post, It is tough to spoil your new born.

Kisses and Hugs Uplift the Mood

The feeling of being loved and embraced by someone is unmatched. Think about the times before social distancing became common. Did a warm hug not instantly lift your mood? Whether meeting someone after a long time, celebrating a success, saying goodbye, or feeling low and disappointed, a hug often brings comfort and reassurance. We instinctively know that hugs have the power to make things feel better.

Many of us may not think about the science behind this immediate sense of comfort and connection. Research suggests that a hug lasting 15 to 20 seconds can strengthen bonding, improve emotional security, and even support healthier development. Physical affection plays a vital role in building resilience and emotional stability.

In the same way, hugging babies is a natural expression of parental love and affection. Kissing and hugging babies strengthens the emotional connection between parent and child. Just like adult hugs, there is scientific evidence supporting the benefits of hugging your baby and its impact on development.

Science Behind Hugging Babies

As parents, we may not need a scientific reason to hug our babies. Affection comes instinctively. However, research clearly supports the importance of hugging babies for healthy growth and development.

Hugs help in making the kids smarter

One of the most significant benefits of hugging babies is its positive impact on cognitive development. Early brain development depends heavily on sensory stimulation, including physical touch and nurturing contact.

Studies conducted on orphaned and institutionalised children in Romania showed delayed cognitive development among those who experienced limited human interaction and minimal physical contact. Many of these children spent long hours in cribs without regular touch or bonding.

However, when they were exposed to 20 minutes of tactile stimulation through hugs and touches, the children scored higher in the developmental assessments in about 10 weeks. Keeping in mind, not all touches can boost a child’s cognitive abilities; touches which are nurturing, gentle hugging provides stimulus to the brain for healthy development.

Hugs help in the growth

Research also indicates that hugging stimulates the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the love hormone. Oxytocin promotes feelings of trust, bonding, and emotional security. This hormone also supports the release of growth related factors that contribute to physical and neurological development.

A nurturing hug can therefore support both emotional wellbeing and physical growth. These findings clearly highlight the importance of hugging your baby as part of their overall development.

Hugging Babies Builds Immunity

Hugging releases the feel good hormone, oxytocin which in turn lowers the plasma level of thyroid hormones, thereby, leading to faster healing of wounds.

(Did you know you can calm your kids with a hug when they are being hyper and not listening to you. Read the post, Hug Your Kids When they are Being Horrible to know more.)

Hugging creates resilience in kids

At birth, babies do not have a fully developed nervous system. They are not capable of regulating stress and emotions on their own. During moments of distress, cortisol levels in the body increase. Research suggests that when high cortisol levels remain elevated for long periods, they can negatively affect a child’s immune system, memory, and even verbal reasoning skills later in life.

Hugs and nurturing touchesinitiate the release of oxytocin which lowers the stress level and makes children control their emotions and grow up to be more resilient. Read our post, Emotional Intelligence is More Important than Intelligence, to know why EQ is extremely important.

Kissing helps in increasing the immunity in kids

There is also interesting science behind the benefits of kissing your baby. When a mother kisses her newborn, exposure to certain pathogens from the baby’s body can trigger an immune response in the mother. This stimulates the production of specific antibodies.

Through breastfeeding, these antibodies are then passed back to the baby, supporting the infant’s immune system. This natural biological process highlights how physical affection and bonding can contribute to a baby’s immunity and overall health.

Kisses and Hugs Reduce Anxiety

Contrary to the belief that by hugging babies, they become dependent on you and this leads to emotional and behavioral problems, the truth is that it makes kids emotionally independent. When I hug or kiss Miss A all my stress goes away and then she is a baby for whom the world is her parents. It has been proved that hugs and kids reduce anxiety in kids, it also enables adults to handle stress better. To know more tips on handing anxiety in toddlers, read the post, 6 Helpful Tips to Handle Anxiety in Toddlers.

Go and Kiss and Hug Your Baby

Hugging and kissing not just have scientific benefits but the emotional benefits are galore. It not just creates a stronger bond between you and your child but also makes them happy and empathetic. As we all must have seen, a simple act of a long hug and a kiss to a distressed baby can pacify him and stop him from throwing tantrums. So keep hugging and kissing your little ones. After all, you are a mom, and it is the only job in the world where you are paid with hugs and kisses and there is no other way you will want it to be.

You can read the post, How to Teach Kindness and Empathy to Kids