5 Science-Backed 'Excuses' to Cuddle Your Kids and Grandkids More
Have you ever noticed how a hug from a
loved one can melt away the troubles of a hard day? If so, we’re here to
tell you that this healing power of hugs isn’t just in your
imagination. A loving embrace from a close friend or family member has
the potential to relieve stress and it comes with a range of real health
benefits.
And while we can all experience these
benefits, research also shows that there’s one group of people that
require cuddles even more than the rest of us - the little ones. All
kids - be it the sweet infants, the adorable toddlers, the busy school
kids, or the feisty teenagers - need daily hugs and cuddles from their
parents, grandparents, and close family members. And when we write
“need”, we’re hardly exaggerating: scientists found that hugging plays
an important role in a child’s brain development, offers stress relief,
and may even change a baby’s genes.
Read on to learn more about these science-backed benefits of giving the
little ones a big bear hug.
1. The importance of hugs for a baby’s brain development
A simple hug can play a huge role in a
baby’s future. Researchers have known this for a while, and this is
precisely why so many hospitals encourage mothers to hug and have
skin-to-skin contact with their kids as soon as they are born. This
practice is known under the term ‘kangaroo care’, and it’s usually said
to promote bonding and early breastfeeding in infants.
But this practice is actually even more important than that, as it seems
that skin-to-skin contact can directly influence a baby’s brain. One
neurological study found, for example, that gentle touch stimulated the
brain activity of preterm babies and predicted their receptiveness to
affection in the future.
As Emily Mudd, a researcher at Cleveland Clinic, pointed out, “We know
that even from the moment we’re born, that touch, physical touch,
attention, and hugs, are so very important for both nervous system
regulation, and brain development.” As the baby develops, the need for
hugs and touch doesn’t go away, and research shows that kids that grew
up with affection and hugs are usually more resilient to stress and even
get better grades as students.
2. Hugs and affection help the little ones cope with their fears
In every child’s life, there comes a time
when they start talking about monsters hiding under the bed or some
other imaginary creature that keeps them awake at night. Usually, this
is a child’s way to conceptualize existential angst, which are the fears
that stem from thinking about human existence. We all have these fears,
but how much we give in to them often determines how confident or
resilient to stress we grow up to be.
Studies point out that physical touch helps us forget about these
existential fears, which is probably why kids that get plenty of
affection tend to be more resistant to stress. With all that said, we’d
like to add that you shouldn’t force a child into a hug. Some kids are
simply drawn to hugs and physical connection more than others, and
that’s okay.
If your kiddo doesn’t like to be hugged and cuddled, psychologists
recommend verbal reinforcement. As cheesy as it may sound, the
occasional “I love you” goes a long way.
3. Hugs are super calming (even for infants)
One could argue that hugs only have a
psychological effect. After all, a child usually knows that their parent
or grandparent loves them, and a hug serves as a reminder of that
affection and support. However, exciting research in infants from 2020
suggests that a hug goes much deeper and actually has a physical calming
effect.
The Japanese study measured small kids'
heart rates when they were held or hugged by their parents and by
strangers. As young as four months, infants exhibited immediate
physiological changes: their heart rate slowed down slightly when they
were held by strangers and then even more when their parents held them.
This suggests an immediate calming effect of cuddles even in tiny
infants. So, the next time you see that the kiddo is upset or stressed,
give them a big hug; chances are that it’s exactly what they need.
4. Hugs boost oxytocin levels in the body
You’ve likely heard about the hormone
oxytocin. It’s also known as the love hormone because it makes us feel
calm and loved. Apart from that, this hormone lowers blood pressure,
reduces anxiety, promotes better sleep, and may even improve memory.
Contrary to popular belief, though, oxytocin isn’t just linked to
romantic love. Oxytocin is also tightly connected with parenthood.
Researchers know, for example, that mothers have especially high levels
of oxytocin during childbirth and breastfeeding. They also established
that physical contact, including hugs, kisses, and cuddles, triggers a
rush of oxytocin. Best of all, these benefits go both ways - both you
and the little ones will feel calmer and better!
5. Cuddles may be able to influence one’s genes
Scientists have known for a while now that
our genes are not entirely set in stone. The environment can make our
body turn on and off some genes, especially during the first months and
years of our lives. These changes are governed by our epigenome, which
can tweak our DNA to varying degrees. Although this is a pretty new
field of research, there’s one intriguing study suggesting that cuddling
infants can change their epigenome.
The researchers selected 100 babies who got different degrees of hugs
and cuddles after birth and established that those who received more
snuggles exhibited detectable changes in their DNA more than 4 years
later. The researchers also detected that the kids who were hugged and
cuddled less had a shorter estimated “epigenetic age”, which can
sometimes predict that one will have poorer health.
The takeaway message is - don’t hesitate to hug and cuddle up with your
kids and grandkids as much as you can, as it turns out that it’s
especially good for them.