Oxytocin is a powerful hormone, often called the "love hormone," because it plays a key role in the deep connection we feel with our children. Think about the joy you feel when holding your newborn close or sharing a big bear hug with your toddler. That rush of happiness you experience is oxytocin at work. This hormone is essential for helping parents and children build strong, lasting bonds, and the more opportunities we create for oxytocin to flow, the deeper that connection will be.
In addition to creating the warm and fuzzy feeling we get while interacting with our loved ones, oxytocin reduces stress. Studies show that when you hug, cuddle, or even just look into the eyes of someone you love, oxytocin levels increase, helping us feel calmer and more relaxed. For new moms, this is like a natural stress-buster—especially on those tough days!
The best part? The many benefits of oxytocin are not a one-way street. When your baby gazes up at you or relaxes in your arms, their oxytocin levels rise, too! This creates a mutual bond and helps both of you feel deeply connected and more at peace.By finding moments for touch, eye contact, and bonding, you’re naturally boosting oxytocin levels, which work wonders for your overall well-being and relationship. “This hormone is instrumental in promoting love, trust, and attachment, forming the cornerstone of a secure and nurturing relationship between mother and child,” (Cureus, 2023)
This month, let’s celebrate LOVE and the many ways we can nurture our bond with our little lovebugs. Here are eight ways to naturally boost oxytocin.
Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding provides a powerful oxytocin boost. The article The Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding: Fostering Maternal Well-Being and Child Development explains that oxytocin plays a key role in both milk production and maternal bonding. The hormone is crucial for milk ejection during breastfeeding, and its release promotes emotional connections between you and your baby. As you nurse, oxytocin is released, facilitating milk flow and fostering a calming, nurturing bond. It's nature's magical way of helping both mom and baby enjoy their meaningful time together.
Babywearing:
Babywearing, or carrying your child in a sling or carrier, encourages physical closeness, which is vital for boosting oxytocin levels for you and your baby or toddler. While you’re babywearing, you might gently sway, sing, talk, or rub your child's back, offering a soothing and comforting presence. These precious moments of connection have a lasting impact, deepening the bond between mother and baby and enhancing the joy experienced by both. The constant touch and proximity stimulate oxytocin release, deepening emotional connection and attachment. As oxytocin flows, it helps regulate stress, improve mood, and foster a sense of well-being. Research shows that babywearing not only strengthens the parent-child bond but also supports emotional stability, promoting a secure and nurturing relationship during those crucial early years. This simple practice has both short and long-term benefits, enhancing emotional health and laying the groundwork for healthy relationships. These strong attachments nurture physical and emotional well-being, benefiting families and society as a whole. (Is there anything babywearing can’t do?!)
Skin to Skin Contact:
Skin-to-skin contact, also known as "kangaroo care," is one of the most powerful ways to release oxytocin. When you hold your baby close against your chest, with bare skin touching bare skin, both of you experience a surge of this bonding hormone. This connection not only enhances bonding but also helps regulate your baby's blood sugar, heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. Research shows that it supports emotional development and reduces stress, making it easier for your little one to relax and even sleep more soundly. To maximize the benefits, you can combine skin-to-skin with babywearing. Simply press your bare chest against your baby’s while wearing them in a carrier. In this cozy position, your baby will likely feel comforted enough to nurse and peacefully drift off to sleep, nestled right where they feel safest.
Cuddling:
Simple physical affection, such as cuddling, rocking, and chubby-cheek-smooches are also effective ways to trigger the release of oxytocin. Holding your child close or snuggling together boosts your bonding hormone, fostering a sense of love, safety, and connection. As oxytocin levels rise, cortisol levels decrease, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety for both parent and child. This nurturing exchange not only strengthens the emotional bond but also promotes a calmer, more peaceful environment for both. (As if we need another reason to cuddle!)
Reading Together:
Reading together is a wonderful bonding activity that also boosts oxytocin. Sharing stories helps foster emotional connection and supports language development. The act of sitting close, engaging in conversation, and sharing experiences through beautiful illustrations and words strengthens your relationship, creating a positive and loving atmosphere in which learning and imagination are celebrated. It also deepens your child's understanding of the world and fosters greater empathy. Reading together, even ten minutes a day, is one of the best things you can do for your child, not only for academic success, but also for emotional intelligence and healthy brain development. Plus, reading and cuddling go hand in hand!
Singing:
Singing to your child, whether it’s a lullaby or a playful tune, also stimulates oxytocin production and facilitates bonding. Babies and children don’t care if you have a radio-worthy voice or not, they just love the sound of your voice and the closeness that music brings. The soothing rhythm of a parent’s voice and the emotional connection during singing help create a comforting environment for both the parent and child, from infancy and beyond. Get those vocal cords ready for some tunes!
Conversation and Eye Contact:
Chatting about your day and making eye contact with your little one are key ways to boost oxytocin. These simple interactions foster a sense of connection and understanding. Studies show that babies are especially sensitive to eye contact with their mother, which plays a crucial role in forming secure attachments and social bonds. In addition, verbal communication plays a role in the release of oxytocin as well. Infants whose mothers frequently talk to their babies, using language to express their child's thoughts or emotions, tend to have higher oxytocin levels. Think about how much closer you feel to a loved one when you engage in regular, meaningful conversations with eye contact. Babies experience a similar connection—consistent, attentive interactions help strengthen their emotional bonds, increase oxytocin release, and contribute to their healthy development.
Bath Time:
Your touch promotes a myriad of benefits for your baby, and bathtime is no exception. Gently washing your baby, gazing into their eyes, applying lotion, and snuggling afterwards is an incredible opportunity to create a loving environment. If your child is older and more interested in playing than cuddling, bathtime still presents the same opportunities for connection through nurturing care and play. Bath time is not only a relaxing and fun routine, but also a great opportunity to bond and release oxytocin. The warmth of the water, combined with the gentle touch of a parent, creates an intimate and nurturing experience.
Overall Benefits:
Oxytocin plays a vital role in your health and well-being, particularly if you're vulnerable to postpartum depression. Activities like skin-to-skin contact, babywearing, breastfeeding, and other bonding practices all boost oxytocin levels, reducing your risk of postpartum depression, stress, and anxiety. The release of oxytocin offers a wide range of health benefits for both you and your baby, boosting your confidence, shaping your perspective on motherhood, and fostering deeper emotional connections with your baby. As oxytocin's positive effects strengthen, you're more likely to engage in more affectionate behaviors like hugging, kissing, and nurturing your baby—creating a cycle of love and connection that promotes lifelong benefits for both of you.
Sources:
Badr, H. A., & Zauszniewski, J. A. (2017). Kangaroo care and postpartum depression: The role of oxytocin. International journal of nursing sciences, 4(2), 179–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2017.01.001
Brockington, G., Gomes Moreira, A. P., Buso, M. S., Gomes da Silva, S., Altszyler, E., Fischer, R., & Moll, J. (2021). Storytelling increases oxytocin and positive emotions and decreases cortisol and pain in hospitalized children. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(22), e2018409118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2018409118
Governor’s Early Learning Foundation. (n.d.). Reading together fosters brain development and bonding attachment. Governor’s Early Learning Foundation. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://governorsfoundation.org/gelf-articles/reading-together-fosters-brain-development-and-bonding-attachment/
Kachha, A., & Patel, H. (2023). Babywearing practices and effects on parental and child physical and psychological health. Academic Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatology, 11(2), 78-85. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361508849_Babywearing_Practices_and_Effects_on_Parental_and_Child_Physical_and_Psychological_Health_Academic_Journal_of_Pediatrics_Neonatology
Keeler, J. R., Roth, E. A., Neuser, B. L., Spitsbergen, J. M., Waters, D. J., & Vianney, J. M. (2015). The neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 9, 518. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00518
Modak, A., Ronghe, V., & Gomase, K. P. (2023). The Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding: Fostering Maternal Well-Being and Child Development. Cureus, 15(10), e46730. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.46730