Know about sense of touch in babies, baby using
hands to explore and textures for kids.
Sense of Touch in Babies
The sense of touch is well-developed considerably, in
infants. They respond to touch in similar ways as adults do. In fact, it
is inherent in a newborn to make out that, he/she has been touched by
his/her mother. Touch is a vital sense, which affects the bond between
the parent and the infant. It also contributes in the cognitive and
immunological development of the baby, as well as improves his/her
sociability. Studies suggest that the sense of touch enhances the growth
and development of the baby and increases his/her attentiveness to the
rest of the world, apart from his/her mother. In this article, know more
about the importance of the sense of touch in babies, and learn how to
use the sense of touch for the overall development of your baby.
Sense Of Touch In Babies
- If your baby is stroked, he/she would spend more time in making
eye contact, smile and vocalize, as opposed to when you tickle or
poke him/her. That way, you will ensure that your child cries for
less time.
- The preferences for touch may vary from infant to infant.
Therefore, as a parent, it is important to know which types of touch
are preferred by the infants. For the purpose, you can try stroking,
bouncing or tickling the baby. If the baby responds positively, by
the way of making an eye contact or passing a smile, probably,
he/she is comfortable with the touch.
- Since the sense of touch plays a pivotal role in the development
of the child, it is important to give your him/her frequent
opportunities to use the sense of touch. When you have figured out,
which type of touch soothes the infant, be sure to do it on a
frequent basis.
- Hugs and kisses are nice ways to soothe the baby. However, be
sure not to overdo it. A tight hug might choke the little one, or an
unhygienic kiss might prove to be allergic to him/her.
- When your baby is exploring the world around him/her with the
sense of touch, provide a safe zone, to ensure that he/she doesn't
reach to something hazardous.
- Infants use their fingers and hands to 'feel' the things and
people around them. To serve the purpose, you may supply your infant
with colorful toys. However, you should ensure that you do not
provide hazardous toys (such as the ones with sharp edges), because
unsafe things could suffocate the infant.
- In the process of exploring the world around him/her, your baby
might meet with little accidents, such as banging the head against
the crib or hurting himself with the sharp edges. Hurtful though,
such accidents actually teach the baby about the importance of their
limits. As they grow, they will recognize that they should keep
themselves away from sharp edges. However, you should still make
sure that such accidents are not repeated frequently.