And a kiss on top of the head

Skin-to-skin contact with your baby triggers the release of oxytocin, preparing you physically and emotionally for a breastfeed.

I ran a breastfeeding drop in for several years and encouraged mothers to use #babyledattachment . Almost without exception, as a mother prepared to position their baby against their bared chest, they would pop a brief kiss on top of their head. I also see this instinctive response when women hold babies in this position as they place them into a baby carrier. It is so automatic and so quick, I doubt they are even aware they are doing it. I have caught myself doing it with my grandchildren in the early days too.

This quick nuzzle is like a combined sniff and kiss. It's almost like the mother ... or grandmother ... is confirming this is her child. I haven't observed this behaviour in fathers.

The positioning of the baby #closeenoughtokiss is a guideline for #babywearing safety. It is part of #babyledattachment and is also a stage in #breastsleeping as the mother rolls over to reposition the baby on her other side.

When holding a baby in this natural placement, their face can connect skin-to-skin with the bare skin revealed by the open neckline of female clothing styles. This fascinates me. I would love to know if high/low necklines in fashion history correlate with breastfeeding history!

Even as a grandmother, when I hold a baby in this upright position with a touch of skin contact, I feel a change within my body. A relaxing release, a calming sensation. I imagine this is in response to oxytocin.

One fascinating thing about this love hormone is its increase in women when we gather to talk. This social connection also triggers a release of oxytocin. Perhaps this is why mothers often remark how well their babies feed at #breastfeeding and #babywearing meets they attend!