Press release from Science Daily re: new study out on infants and the effects of pleasant touch, stating "infants show unique physiological and behavioral responses to pleasant touch, which may help to cement the bonds between child and parent and promote early social and physiological development, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science."  

We in the lactation field so often observe the mother gently caressing her baby's skin while nursing her baby, as compared to bottle-feeding, in which the mother or other caregiver does not have a free hand in which to caress the infant during the feed, since one arm/hand is supporting the baby and the other hand is supporting the bottle.   

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140402105744.htm

Debra Swank, RN BSN IBCLC
Ocala FL USA

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