Baby Cuddling: 81-Year-Old Man Volunteers To Care For Seriously Ill Babies
September 19, 2018
Child's health is everything for the parents. Unfortunately, many children are hospitalized daily for various reasons. Some babies are born so small and weak that they require constant professional supervision.
Many clinics initiate volunteer programs, in which after passing a background check and training, everyone can care for newborns and sick babies. Depending on the condition of the baby, they would either help with baby care or simply share their warmth through cuddling. This kind of work has already got its title in everyday language - “cuddling care”. Tactile contact gives babies a sense of security and helps them to calm down. Studies have established that gentle caressing or simply placing a hand on premature babies reduces levels of cortisol (the primary stress hormone), and a touch may benefit their heart rate and sleep, and perhaps even speed up their discharge from the hospital.