Fingertips and tickles: How your baby’s sense of Touch develops? (Part 1)

 

Just as their eyes and ears begin a captivating process of exploration, a newborn's journey into the world is accompanied by a delicate dance of touch and motor development. Have you ever wondered how those tiny fingers feel the world around them or when your little one will grasp your finger for the first time? The topic of touch is a big one, so we’ll cover it in two parts. In this part we’ll touch on key points about everything your baby's sense of touch includes and what you’ll both go through in the first few weeks. In our second part, we’ll learn all about how they take their sense of touch and learn to interact with the world through their fine and gross motor skills. Don’t worry, after this, you’ll have a great grasp on what they’ll go through.

 

Sensational SKIN.

One of the most adored parts of our little newborns is the softness of their skin. I remember accidentally scratching my little one with my nail one nappy change and it was as if the world had ended. I felt terrible of course but it also made me wonder just how sensitive their newborn skin is and how it must feel to  experience every new surface, texture ect. For the first time! (and I also quickly trimmed my nails).

To talk about a baby’s touch development it’s important to understand what we mean when we say our sense of touch. It’s everything we experience through our skin. But what all of that is, is pretty remarkable when we stop and think about it.

 

Tickles and fingertips

The primary touch sensation we might think of when we think of our skin is the feeling when something comes into contact with us. But this simple response in itself has three distinct and different elements;

  • Light touch - firstly, we know something has touched our skin and where it was. “Mum kissed my nose.” 😊

  • Discriminative touch - secondly, we understand what the nature of different contacts and touches feel like. Was sticky or smooth or rough for example. “Mum’s kiss was soft, but Dad’s kiss was prickly”. “The honey is sticky” .

  • Pressure sensation - how strong or firm was the touch. A light brush, or a firm grab? “My sisters gave me a hug with a big squeeze”.

Ouch - Feeling Pain

We protect and care for ourselves by recognising when we are being harmed or injured. These pain sensations are passed through our skin and special nervous pathways to our brain when we’re in danger. Big or small. This is not something we want to learn on purpose, but little accidents and lessons help us to build an understanding of what it feels like and what to watch out for.  

❄️ 🔥 Hot and cold! ❄️ 🔥 Sensing temperature

Our skin tells our brain whether we are hot or cold, and will respond accordingly. Magically with this sensation we don’t have to actually touch something to know its hot or cold. We get an early warning just by being nearby something. This goes even further! Sensing cold in our skin will set off goose pimples, part of the message that tells us to shiver and stay warm. Or if we’re too hot our skin will open up and make us sweat.

✅ Top Tip - it’s so important to understand that our little ones haven’t developed this self heating and cooling ability yet. We call this “regulating our temperature”. And it’s why you need to pay so much attention to keeping your little one warm and cool at the right times. 

 

🥁 🛎️ Good Vibrations 🥁 🛎️

We all know and recognise what music can feel like through our skin, or the thrum of train through the ground. It’s not one of our most often used senses but it can be surprising and joyful. If you have a bell at home soft chimes can be a lovely experience for your little one.

 

🤸‍♀️ Balance and our Body - the Two extra senses. 

There’s a common perception we often hear of us having 5 senses. (🤔 Did you know this actually originates with the philosopher Aristotle nearly 2400 years ago).

But we actually have 7. 

Beyond sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch are two we don’t automatically know or think of: 

  • Vestibular - this is our sense of Balance and Movement. It basically relies on our inner ear telling us where our head and our eyes what way our head is facing. It’s very closely related to eyesight and motor skill development.

  • Proprioception - this is our sense of our own Body and where it is in relation to itself and other things. Specialised cells in our muscles tell our brain where all our joints and body parts at any one time, and information like how much pressure they’re under or weight they’re carrying.

These two senses are are particularly important to understanding development of fine and gross motor skills, so we’ll deiscuss them more in Part 2 of our blogs on Touch.

 

So when and how does this all happen?

Now that we understand everything that our little ones will learn through touch, let’s understand how they learn it, how you help and how you both can enjoy the journey.

The first days and weeks - Skin-to-Skin time

In the early weeks, newborns (and you no doubt) are deeply attached to the comforting feel of your touch. Skin-to-skin contact in the early hours, days and weeks has been scientifically shown to have incredibly positive effects on babies. It helps them form connections, stay calm and appears to be hugely positive for their young immune system. Make time and space for yourself to share warmth and comfort of your skin with them. It will foster a deep sense of security and connection. The same goes for dad or other parent. 

🤔 Did you know: this recommended skin-to-skin care approach is known as “Kangaroo Care”. It’s named that due to the similarity with young kangaroo joeys clutching to their Mum in the pouch. 🦘

 

What next?

Now we understand everything that makes up our sense of touch and the earliest stages, we are ready to explore the stepping stones and skills that take littles all the way from grasping and reaching, to crawling, scooting, walking and dancing.

Look after your little one. Look after yourself. 

Juliet. 💛

 
Juliet McGrath