Session 5/21
Page 2/5 Topic A: Why is physical stimulation so important for normal brain development and attachment?Topic A: Why is physical stimulation so important for normal brain development and attachment?
For millions of years, mammals have created physical contact between mother and baby. You see dogs, cats, cows and many other mammals lick their puppets often, and give them close physical contact by lying next to them. This is not only to keep them clean; licking also activates the pup’s or the cub’s brain, and physical contact is also an important “starter” of attachment and emotional bonding between a baby animal and its mother. A baby animal not being licked after birth will probably die after a while because of a lack of brain activity. ”Depression” really means “low activity“, so baby depression stems from a lack of physical stimulation, causing a low brain activity level. Institutionalized and abandoned babies are particularly exposed to a lack of this stimulation, having lost their first caregivers or being in undermanned institutions. Many dysfunctional parents are not able to stimulate their babies physically, and many children are not stimulated enough prior to their placement in the institution or the foster family. Humans are born with a very immature and unstable brain, and in the start of life, brain activity can only increase and stabilize if the baby is often stimulated by physical contact.
Touching (skin contact) after birth is also very important for activating the attachment system. Problems in early attachment are seen if mothers of newborns are prevented from touching and taking up their newborns whenever they feel the urge to do so.
For example in hospital studies of birth practices: In hospital studies of birth practices, separating newborns from their mothers according to fixed schedules can increase maternal feelings of guilt, insecurity in understanding the baby’s needs, and difficulty making care decisions. Prolonged separation may even weaken the mother’s sense of attachment, causing the baby to feel like a stranger. Bonding depends on extended physical contact after birth. In cases of premature birth or complications, medical separations (e.g., incubators) can harm the baby’s brain development and the mother’s attachment. To address this, many neonatal units now prioritize keeping mothers and newborns together.
Baby massage involves gently stroking and massaging a newborn’s body to promote bonding, relaxation, and healthy development. It also strengthens the emotional attachment between parent and child.
You can find a lot of videos on YouTube showing baby massage techniques.
TOOLS FOR STIMULATING BABIES EVEN WHILE MOTHERS ARE WORKING
Physical contact between mother and baby is important for the baby’s healthy brain development. It also enhances the attachment system, so the baby feels secure from being carried and caressed in daily contact.
This practice will also strengthen the baby’s immune system, so it will be less prone to get infections and diseases. Even in low-income families this traditional practice can improve child development drastically.
At birth, the baby’s brain is not ready to function itself. You can say that for the first nine months after birth, we are talking about “finishing pregnancy outside the womb” – only at nine to twelve months after birth is the baby achieving stable brain activity.
10 minutes
Please study the pictures and videos and discuss:
- How did your parents and grandparents stimulate babies? Did they carry them on the body?
- Did they use any of the stimulation tools you can see – cradles, hammocks, etc.?
- If you have or have had babies, did you use any of these tools?
- Have a look at the children younger than one year in your professional care:
- Do you often carry them on the body?
- What do they sleep in?
- How much of their waking time do they spend in a bed or something that does not rock or move? (Such as a bed, a playpen or a pram that is not moving)