You may have heard that you risk 'spoiling' your baby by cuddling them too much.
However, as health visitor Sarah Heaney explains in the video below, this is a myth - cuddling is great for babies' development and bond with you.
Can I cuddle my baby too much? No, absolutely not. You cannot cuddle your baby too much. But new parents ask me that all the time because they think that too much cuddles could spoil their baby. Science tells us that cuddles strengthen that bond between parent and baby. The cuddle chemical, oxytocin, floods the brain. It makes you and your baby feel safe, loved and secure.
Dads can join in with cuddles and experience all the benefits, too. Cuddles are a great way to get your partner involved and strengthen their bond with the baby. Time spent cuddling gives you the perfect opportunity to chat and sing to your baby. This will hugely help their developing language and communication skills.
Can I cuddle my baby too much?
No, absolutely not. You cannot cuddle your baby too much. In fact, there are loads of benefits to cuddling your baby.
Science tells us that cuddles strengthen the bond between parent and baby. When you cuddle your baby, the cuddle chemical, oxytocin, floods the brain. Oxytocin is a hormone and it makes you and your baby feel safe, loved and secure.
Before babies are born, they're in constant physical contact in the womb and they need lots of it after they're born too.
Positive touch and skin to skin contact can make baby feel more secure, as well as boosting their immune system and helping them sleep better.
Find out more about why your touch is great for your baby's development.
How to make the most of cuddle time
Here is a list of some of the ways you can boost your newborn's development while you're cuddling them. If you're helping their early language skills, then there definitely can't be too much cuddling. So, release some feel good hormones and try these bonding activities for babies:
- Try some baby massage while they're in your arms.
- As your cuddling, why not try touching and naming their body parts.
- Try singing a rhyme or a lullaby.
- Make some funny faces and see if they will copy you.
- Talk about your day, what you did or what you are going to do.
- Copying the noises your baby makes and let them know you're listening to them.
