
Benefits
For your baby
•Strengthens secure attachments and interactions between parent and child
•Communicates the feelings of being loved, valued and respected to your baby
•Can help reduce crying
•Can increase baby’s ability to relax and to sleep more deeply
•Encourages coordination, body awareness and develops baby’s first language: touch
•Can provide relief from issues such as wind, colic, constipation and teething
For you
•Raises levels of the love hormone oxytocin in both you and your baby, promoting feelings of closeness.
•Close contact helps build a greater understanding of your baby’s body language and behaviors
•Special peaceful one on one time with your baby
•Increased skills that will give you greater confidence in caring for your baby
•Feelings of relaxation as you massage your baby
For family and society
•Encourages the involvement of siblings and extended family in baby care
•Promotes relaxed environment in the home with more communication and respect
•Reduced infant health care costs
•Less child abuse
•Fewer behavioral problems
•Less violence