All you need is . . .
. . . love! To thrive, your child needs lots of cuddles and human contact, particularly with her main carers. Studies show that lack of love and affection is as damaging to children as food deprivation: Adequately nourished babies deprived of human relationships become impeded in their development in both mind and body.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of touch – human contact is critical for development and well-being. Babies who are held cry less than those who aren’t, and those who’re cuddled and massaged frequently tend to have better immune systems and handle stress more efficiently than those who aren’t. The need for touch continues into childhood and beyond. One study showed that when children were massaged regularly for a month, blood glucose levels dropped dramatically in diabetic children and the children were able to reduce their medication, while asthmatic children had fewer asthma attacks. Massage also reduced the symptoms in children with autism, severe burns, cancer, and arthritis.
Posted in Children's Health
