You releases Oxytocin hormones when you cuddle your baby

The study found that more than half of mums agree that cuddling your baby is the best way to improve the relationship between a mother and baby bond. However nearly quarter of those mums do not exactly know why the bond should become stronger.

When a mother cuddles her baby, she releases Oxytocin hormones, also known as cuddle or love hormone, in high levels. Nearly two-third of all new mums are not aware of this of this hormone and the benefits that it can have on their baby.

The study also found that while the majority of mums cuddle their baby as soon as possible, 42 per cent believe that it’s better not to show affection immediately so that the baby doesn’t expect attention whenever it wants to.

Dr. Carol Cooper, Huggies Natural Fit’s independent spokeswoman, says, ‘Research has shown that babies who aren’t comforted when they need it actually become more demanding, not less. Parents eventually discover, that there is very little to be gained by waiting for a baby’s cries to reach a crescendo - babies that have reached this point are much harder to pacify.’

Giving attention to a newborn baby can also help the child later in life with decision-making and emotional processing. So the advantages of Oxytocin are numerous and benefit the mother as well as the newborn.

Basel’s Institute of Psychology shows that the amount of Oxytocin in the mother’s blood helps her to adapt the new role as mother far easier.

Dr. Cooper comments, ‘Postnatal depression can last up to two years post birth which indicates that the more tactile contact a mother has with her child, the better for both parties.’

She adds, ‘Where there’s a mum with high levels of Oxytocin there is a happier mum and a baby getting lots of cuddles and the best start in life.’

By Katharina Kretschmer