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Have you ever experienced mommy guilt? Don't worry, you're not alone—all moms have gone through, or is still going through, moments when they feel like even if they’re giving their all to their child, it's still not enough. But does the guilt ever go away?
Yes, it does. And the very thing that makes it go away is so simple you would have overlooked it several times.
Every child knows everything is made better by a mere touch, a hug or a pat on the back. Think about it—one of the first things that you were encouraged to do after giving birth was to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby, so that your newborn can form an instant bond with you and familiarize himself with emotional cues that make your baby feel understood and safe. The sense of touch is very important and is by far the simplest way to show love and care. Even in the first days of life, your baby picks up on your emotional cues—your tone of voice, your gestures, and your emotions—and sends you signals by crying, cooing, smiling, laughing and pointing.
Every mother's touch will help your baby's brain to develop. These actions make the brain produce chemicals and hormones that make a baby grow emotionally and physically. Here are a couple more things only a mother's touch can soothe.
Sleepless Nights
Newborns are still too young to know how to put themselves to sleep and it's no wonder that they get upset and cry about it—you would cry too if you're cranky, tired and don't know what to do. Mothers figure out through time and experience which is the "sleepy cry", so combine that knowledge with gentle rocking, the sound of your heart beating (which reminds your baby of his time inside your tummy) and your soft touch, you'll be able to lull your baby into a deep slumber. There are studies that show a baby's brain development is facilitated because they are calmer and they have slept better.
Soapy Eyes
The first baths usually put the baby in an unstable state. They cry because they feel insecure. This makes the first baths of babies 0-3 important moments of development to either enhance a newborn's experience of security or, in a very real sense, traumatize it. This is why your little one needs your tender touch. The time, care and affection you shower on your baby during bath time is conveyed when you lather on Johnson's Baby Top-To-Toe Wash on him, without even the slightest hint of tears from the sting of soapy eyes, thanks to its No More Tears formula and your ever so gentle touch.
Hot Weather
Everyday experiences help shape your baby's brain—from your daily routines to the people your baby comes in contact with. Babies need to live and play in healthy spaces with opportunities to learn and grow. However, the heat nowadays is just too much to stay sweat-free. Rashes can be caused by the heat too or by moisture trapped in by too-tight clothing or diapers. You can make sure that these won't happen by a simple sprinkling of Johnson's Baby Powder on his body, especially on his diaper area and back. Change his shirt more often and re-apply powder as needed.
Fears and Bad Dreams
Simple observation of a newborn clarifies her helpless nature. She needs warmth and nourishment. She cannot move herself away from danger and cannot use words to communicate her needs. Don't you notice that the first thing that happens after your baby feels frightened, hurt or unsure, is to cry? It's human nature to find comfort in a big, warm hug, but the power of touch is made more powerful when it's from someone you know who loves you more than life itself. Your child getting a hug from you is like saying that everything will be okay, being touched or hearing a heartbeat is familiar because they heard it in the womb.
Mothers always feel this nagging guilt - that what they are doing is not good enough. Working moms may find it challenging to keep a job while caring for a child, while single moms feel pangs of pain for their inability to give their child the father figure he needs. But every mom from all walks of life should realize that there is more to being a mom than providing your kids with their basic needs. The fact that you try your hardest to make things work is enough. To let your child feel loved everyday through the simplest way is good enough. Watch the video below to see how, for a baby, a mom's touch is more than enough.
