Why cuddling with your baby is so important
Cuddling with your newborn baby is not only nice, but also very healthy! Babies who are cuddled experience less stress, cry less and develop better. Why is that? In this article you can read why cuddling is so important for your baby - and how to give your baby exactly what he needs..
From womb to outside world
To understand what a baby is going through, we start in the belly. Your baby is tight and secure in the womb. Everything your baby needs is there. In the safe cocoon, your baby swings back and forth in slow motion and there is constant oxygen and nutrition. Stimuli such as light and sound enter dampened. There is no difference between day and night. Your baby just takes an occasional nap. Everything is nice and comfortable.
The transition to the outside world is great: breathing, loud noises, bright light, space to move - everything is new.
Uterus |
Outside world |
|
secure and tight |
space and air |
|
delayed swing |
moving uncontrollably |
|
nice and warm |
alternating hot and cold |
|
dark |
bright light |
|
muffled sound |
loud noises |
|
no smell |
all different scents |
|
constant oxygen via umbilical cord |
breathing yourself |
|
constant nutrition through umbilical cord |
hungry, drink yourself |
|
the environment is constantly the same |
big difference between day and night |
|
take a short nap every now and then |
(longer) learning to sleep in a rhythm |
|
naked in warm liquid |
the feeling of dust on the skin |
|
always pressed against mom |
being alone |
Source:Happy Baby Coach
So your baby actually has a huge jet lag! No wonder that not everything goes smoothly right away. Your baby still has to get used to the new situation and that takes time. By cuddling him a lot, your baby can discover this new world from your safe arms.
The fourth trimester
Most mammals stand on their feet fairly quickly after birth. In humans it is different. Our babies are helpless and completely dependent on you. The first 3 months are also sometimes‘The fourth trimester named. A baby does not yet have control over movements, the digestive system is not yet working properly and the brain still needs to develop considerably. So your baby isn't really finished yet." The first months are quite tough for your baby and that's why cuddling is so very important!
8 benefits of cuddling
As a parent, you naturally want to do everything you can to help your baby get used to the outside world. Cuddling plays an important role, especially in this first phase. Babies who receive lots of love and warmth from the start are more likely to develop into happy, resilient adults with fewer fears. The benefits of cuddling at a glance:
Bonus advantage: adults also produce the cuddle hormone oxytocin when touched physically. Cuddling with your baby a lot has benefits for you too! It makes you calmer, happier and reduces stress.
The womb feeling in bed
Nothing is nicer than a big hug from mom or dad, but you can't always be around.When your baby goes to sleep, tucking it in tightly gives the same feeling of security. There is a challenge: your baby has no control over his movements andkicks loose the sheet in no time.
That's why I got itNUNKI sheet invented. With this sheet, tucking in tightly is super simple. The sheet goes around the mattress and cannot come loose. You can simply tuck in by opening and closing the sheet.The elastic fabric on the top creates onedeep pressure sensation on the upper body. This helps your baby relax and process stimuli, just like in the womb.
This is how Fedde&Kees cuddles your baby to sleep!
Love,
Frederieke
Owner Fedde&Kees®
Ik ben Frederieke, getrouwd met Ewoud en mama van 4 kindjes. Na op veel plekken gewoond te hebben, ben ik gesetteld in Nieuwkoop. Ik werkte in de commercie tot mijn vierde kindje geboren werd. Fedde was een huilbaby en vanuit deze wanhoop heb ik de producten van Fedde&Kees bedacht. Ik gooide mijn leven om en begon met ondernemen. Sinds 2018 help ik andere ouders naar een betere slaap!
