The Unrecognized Power of Touch

Oct. 4, 2005 - Attachment Parenting

I've been reading one of my daughter's books on attachment parenting. Adapting this instinctual, high-touch, responsive style of parenting would absolutely decrease the amount of violence in our world. The need for therapy would be rare.

What if every infant bonded to her mother immediately in the first few days? What if you had all your needs met as an infant and you got comfort and food on demand, without resentment, from your relaxed, confident parents? What if every mother breastfed her child and was 100% supported in doing so? After all, that what breasts were designed for! (Men, please remember that.)

If you know of anyone about to have a baby, or who needs help with their young child's behavior, I highly suggest reading "Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care For Your Baby and Your Young Child" by Katie Allison Granju. Some readers may feel sad they never experienced such parenting, or didn't know better when they raised their own babies, but personally I feel hopeful that the re-growth of natural child-rearing practices based on thousands of years of evolution can change the world and make us all happier and healthier.

P.S. This book is loaded with resources!

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Paula Jeane, Ph.D.
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Founder of The Touch-Ability Project

Oct. 4, 2005 - The Kangaroo Technique

Posted by Ritaw

Hi Paula,

This reminded me of the Kangaroo Technique. My son was a premature baby- and he was 3 months premature at that! He was in the NICU for 2 months before he could come home (since he was just a 2 pounder).

One of the things the nurses recommended, was doing the 'kangaroo technique'. They say that this aids in the healing and recovery of babies.

Basically, we would move a rocking chair next to the the incubator. My son, (although still hooked up like sterio equipment), would be unclothed at the chest, and the nurses would place him on my bare chest. I would hold him so that we were skin to skin. My husband and I would do this hours on end. (Of course- we as parents wanted to touch him and be with him, just as much as he needed that closeness with us to gain strength).

I recall that the nurses said that there was statistical information that showed
how impactful this was to help babies survive

Rita Wilhelm
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SnapMonkey.com , PetBoogaloo.com and
GiftBasketMessageBoard.com

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Oct. 4, 2005 - I can vouch for the importance of attachment parenting.

Posted by

I raised four adopted children. Early on we realized we had to find a solution to the missing "core" in our relationship with the older two - the classic bonding/attachment problems associated with so many adopted children. One of the effective solutions we encountered was attachment therapy which involved hours of holding, touching, eye contact and "speaking feelings into being". It made a profound and immediate difference and has been the foundation of an excellent relationship.

JoyceM

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Oct. 5, 2005 - Touching Babies...

Posted by kittyrconnell

Our little granddaughter was born in severe respiratory distress and was in an incubator for days. Not only were we forbidden to touch her, we couldn't even speak to her. She had to be kept perfectly still and could tolerate NO stimulation. It was horrible. She was so little and looked so lonely and needed to be cuddled.

Thankfully, she thrived. And I remember the day my daughter got to take her home. My daughter called me after they got settled in, and I could tell that she was crying. I asked what was wrong and was told that everything was perfect. My daughter had disrobed and undressed the baby, and they were lying in bed together, skin to skin, and the baby was nursing for the first time in her new home. Geeze, I'm all teary-eyed thinking about it.

That little girl is now perfect in every way ~ healthy, delightful, confident, and sweet. (So is her brother.) And I'm convinced it's because of my daughter's dedication to conscious, loving touch.

Blessings to All ~ and May We Each Touch Someone Today!
Kitty R. Connell

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Oct. 10, 2005 - Thanks Paula

Posted by tloomis

I am facilitating a workshop "Parenting on Purpose" this November, thank you for the info to add in and the resources of the book... Tim

ConnectingPointe
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About Me

I teach about how touch shapes lives. My blog offers information on the profound impact and the unrecognized power of our sense of touch. How we are touched as children affects our behaviors and relationships for life. Through the art of appropriate touch, I help build safer, saner, happier families. Specific touch-related knowledge and skills help families effectively deal with stress and ensure they are violence free families.

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