Newborns touch mom's face - what is the reason

The bond between a mother and her newborn child is undeniable. It is a unique connection that starts developing even before the baby is born. From the first moment they lay eyes on each other, there seems to be an unspoken language between them – one that often involves the newborn reaching out to touch their mother’s face. But what is the reason behind this instinctive gesture?

To understand why newborns touch their mom’s face, we need to look at the early stages of development. As babies grow in the womb, they are exposed to various sensory stimuli, including sounds and movements within their mother’s body. Additionally, they are familiar with the sensations of their mother’s touch. After spending nine months feeling the warmth, security, and comfort of their mother’s womb, it is no surprise that babies seek out these familiar sensations once they are born.

Touch is one of the first senses that a newborn develops. They have an innate ability to recognize their mother’s touch, which provides them with a sense of security and familiarity. By touching their mother’s face, newborns are reassured of their presence and connection to her. It is a way for them to feel grounded and to establish a physical bond outside the womb.

Another reason why newborns touch their mom’s face is the power of skin-to-skin contact. When a baby touches its mother’s face, both are engaged in a tactile exchange that releases hormones such as oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” This hormone plays a vital role in bonding, trust, and social interaction. It promotes a sense of calm and contentment, benefiting both the mother and her baby. By engaging in skin-to-skin contact, newborns and their mothers are able to establish a deep emotional connection.

Newborns are also highly attuned to human faces. They are born with an instinct to recognize and respond to facial features, particularly their mother’s face. Studies have shown that even within hours of birth, babies show a preference for faces over other visual stimuli. Touching their mother’s face may be their way of exploring and familiarizing themselves with her features, imprinting them in their memory.

Furthermore, a newborn’s touch on the mother’s face can be seen as a form of communication. Babies express their needs and desires through touch, as their verbal and physical abilities are limited in the early stages. By reaching out towards their mother’s face, they might be seeking comfort, hunger, or simply seeking attention. This physical contact often serves as their way of signaling to their mother and establishing a means of communication even before spoken language is developed.

In conclusion, newborns touching their mother’s face is a natural and instinctive behavior rooted in their developmental stages and the bond they share. It begins with the familiarity of their mother’s touch and the sense of safety it brings. Through skin-to-skin contact, they release hormones that strengthen their emotional connection. Exploring their mother’s face helps them recognize familiar features, while touching serves as a means of non-verbal communication. As newborns discover the world around them, touching their mother’s face becomes a manifestation of their profound connection and an essential component of their early development.