Hugs and Healing

Some say we all need 12 hugs per day to function

at our best — never underestimate the power of

physical affection.

The new Children’s Hospital will be bathed in natural light and incorporate soothing colors throughout to lift the spirits of all who come through the doors. While we’re advancing medical care, nursing care and technology, the healing process will still require the human touch.

Research on premature babies shows that touch and massage improve weight gain, reduce crying and shorten hospital stays. It doesn’t end there. Hugs stimulate the release of dopamine, a neurochemical that makes us feel happy and hopeful. Human affection is the foundation of emotional and physical health at any age.

In the Hospital

Children in a hospital setting need frequent reassurance that they are loved and safe. The best way to convey love is through physical affection. The sicker the child, the more he or she needs holding, hugging and comforting. If your child is confined to a bed, massage may be beneficial.

Don’t depend on loving words to fill this need. Words of love and praise are important, but not a replacement for touch. To convey love to your children, be sure to hug them. It’s a safe, free, powerful therapy.

In the Home

Even well children need physical affection to thrive. During the first years of life, children normally receive lots of physical contact. We carry them until they learn to walk. We feed them, dress them and bathe them. Then, as children mature and learn to do more for themselves, we tend to hold them less often. This natural lessening of physical contact with our children may cause us to lose an important connection with them.

Have you hugged your child today?