01/05/2026
Hold your babies.
It's good for their brain.
It's good for your heart. ❤️
When a baby is held during sleep, their brain is doing important work. Gentle touch and closeness send safety signals through the nervous system. These signals help the brain learn that the world is calm and predictable, especially during the early months when the brain is growing fastest.
Research in neuroscience shows that comforting sleep practices support stronger connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. The prefrontal area helps with calming, reasoning, and emotional control. The amygdala detects stress and fear. When these two areas communicate well, a child is better able to manage emotions later in life.
Holding a baby while they sleep helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and stress hormones. Over time, the brain learns how to settle itself more effectively. This does not create dependence. It builds a foundation of security that the brain uses to develop self regulation as the child grows.
You cannot spoil a baby by responding to their need for comfort. You are teaching their nervous system how safety feels. That early sense of safety supports emotional resilience, confidence, and calmer responses to stress in childhood and beyond. Comfort today supports mental health for years to come.
