When both parents engage in skin-to-skin contact with their baby, the benefits multiply.
A mother's touch is obviously beneficial to a newborn. In fact, science proves this. When a newborn is constantly carried by their mother, their blood sugar levels stabilize, the circulatory and respiratory systems function better [1], and the cerebral brain develops more quickly [2].
But is physical touch with dad equally beneficial? There is significantly less research on this topic, but those that exist can unequivocally say yes. For example, a Swedish study discovered that newborns stopped sobbing after 15 minutes on their father's chest [3]. Other research has shown that a father's touch can reduce tension in babies [4] and even help them cope with pain [5].
Fathers benefit from holding their newborns because it increases oxytocin, the love hormone, while decreasing cortisol, the stress hormone [6]. Overall, this leads to reduced anxiety, more self-confidence, and stronger ties between a baby and a parent. In other words, parental skills are enhanced! The father only needs to hold and hug the newborn with a bare torso or an open shirt. Clothes can get in the way of this, making the results far more modest [7].
As you can see, physical touch with both parents is equally crucial for a baby. Encourage your partner to hold the infant more frequently. Napping on Daddy's chest also allows you to take a shower, relax, or complete some chores.
