Oxytocin, the hormone produced by the hypothalamus in the brain and released by the pituitary gland, provides several health benefits including improving immune function, reducing stress levels, and inflammation.
Also known as the "sedation hormone" for its calming and relaxing effects, oxytocin can help babies feel safe and secure, thus helping to improve their sleep quality and duration.
There are several ways to boost baby's levels of oxytocin, including:
- Touch: Gentle touches, such as stroking or massaging your baby, can stimulate the release of oxytocin and increase a sense of calm and relaxation, thereby helping baby wind down and fall asleep faster.
- Skin-to-skin contact: Holding your baby close to your skin increases the release of oxytocin, which can help baby feel calm and drowsy, thereby inducing sleepiness.
- Sucking: The act of sucking—whether it is a mother's breast, a bottle, a pacifier, or one's own thumbs or fingers—has been proven to have a calming and soothing effect on babies, thereby helping to improve baby's sleep quality. In one survey, researchers found that babies who sucked on their own thumbs or fingers slept longer at night and experienced fewer night wakings.
To support your newborn's self-soothing behaviours early on, allow your baby to get their hands to face and mouth as much as possible while swaddling.
That's where the Fetal Flex Swaddle comes in! Designed in Australia, the patented Fetal Flex design helps your baby self-soothe, settle faster, and sleep better and longer.
