Caring for a premature infant can be quite a challenge not only for the baby himself but also for the parents. Seeing an infant go through such a difficult time at an extremely young age can surely take its toll on your mind and heart. Hug therapy is one of the many ways to help premature babies gain enough strength to survive any ordeal they may face in the future. In this article, you will learn how effective this method is and how it works exactly.
Understanding hug therapy: The benefit of human touch
For adult humans, it shows that any form of physical contact, such as an embrace or a simple hug, can help lift emotions. If someone is feeling down or sad, hug them, and you will most likely be able to see a smile on their face right afterward. The same goes for premature babies.
Skin-to-skin contact can help babies gain strength, which helps them grow and develop fully. Hug therapy is especially beneficial for premature babies because hugs can help them regulate their temperature. Hug therapy can also give them the security they need to develop independently.
It doesn’t matter If a man or a woman embraces them. What is essential is human connection and touch. If you hug a premature baby, you will help it grow and develop even more rapidly.
The science behind the power of touch
A simple hug can help improve brain function by releasing some essential chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, which is also called the happy hormone. It also releases oxytocin, which reduces stress levels. Because of these hormones, you will be able to feel good just by simply touching another person.
Being hugged or embraced by parents, relatives, and even strangers can give babies the comfort and emotional boost they need to continue fighting and living for loved ones. For this reason, you should always make it a point to hug your children, even if they grow older.
Helping premature babies through hug therapy
The effects of hug therapy can be seen in infants even ten years into their development. Premature babies embraced in infancy tend to thrive and be even happier than other children.
Those who have been abandoned and have lived in orphanages, whether premature or not, have been seen to develop various physical and mental conditions related to depression and overall melancholy. There is also a rampant failure to survive and thrive in any environment for these children and premature babies.
As parents, never forget to hug your babies, even just for a few minutes daily. Showing affection through hugs will foster your connection with your child and allow you to tell them how much you love them even without saying a word.
5 main benefits of hug therapy
1. Hug therapy provides an important energy boost
Scientifically speaking, skin-to-skin contact, as mentioned earlier, can activate some dormant hormones in the brain, such as serotonin and oxytocin. These hormones reduce stress and make babies happier despite a chaotic environment. Because of the heightened positive emotion, they will have more energy to survive daily.
2. Hug therapy helps them to relax
With reduced stress, premature babies can relax and focus on improving their physical well-being. Your embrace will give them a sense of security and safety, knowing you will always guide them in whatever happens. This will provide them with room to develop more fully on their own.
3. They become used to human contact
If you constantly hug a premature baby, you will inadvertently help them develop their social skills and physical bodies. Constant contact with you and other members of your family or even strangers will allow the baby to become familiar with their human environment, thus helping it get stronger in a more social environment.
4. It protects them from disease
Various medical journals have proven how hugs help strengthen the immune system, not only for babies, but also for adult humans. This means that if you try to hug your baby at least once daily, you will help them improve their health significantly because your touch strengthens their immune system. The same is even more true for premature babies. Your touch will heal them of their ills.
5. Hugs are free
If not for anything else, giving your hug to someone, whether a premature baby or not, will not cost you a single penny. Through your hugs, you will be able to brighten someone else’s day for sure.
It may be cheesy, but this is one of the simplest and easiest ways to help your premature baby get healthier as time goes by. You should not hesitate to do it if given the chance. There will be no issue if you work as a volunteer hugger or hug your baby cousin or sibling. What is important is that you can show that you care through your hugs.
The value of human touch for infants
Hugging children will help them develop a connection to the world and teach them the importance of making connections years after birth. Children will never feel lonely or weak if you hug them as babies.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
