Last month, I flew to Chicago to attend a workshop program with the Huggies Parents Council. It’s almost hard to put into words what an enlightening experience it was. We got to hear from some of the most inspiring speakers: Dr. Sears, a Pediatrician and author of over 30 parenting books, Dr. Olivier Ouiller, a neurologist and Felicia Fitzgerald, a nurse who has been in the NICU for 20+ years.

We walked away from this workshop with a wealth of information and it made me want to come home and hug Nate (and everyone else I love), just a little bit more. Have you ever noticed that after a hug, especially from someone you truly love, you feel slightly more at ease? Your mood is lighter and chances are, your stress levels decrease?

There’s no denying that hugs feel good, but it’s so much more than that. Science shows that hugs have a tangible effect on certain chemicals and parts of the brain associated with well-being and development – and it all starts in infancy. That’s the main reason you’ll always hear “more skin-to-skin” as a new baby comes into this world. This act represents more than a nurturing cuddle; it produces tangible, neurological effects and is proven to support babies’ emotional and physiological development.

According to a recent Huggies study titled “The Power of Human Touch for Babies,” skin-to-skin hugs can do more than calm a cry or sooth stress. Hugs can help keep a baby’s heart beating at a normal rate, improve sleep and support healthy weight gain. MRI and PET scans have revealed that hugs stimulate the release of dopamine, the feel-good drug.

Chances are, we all know of someone who rarely wants to be touched or hugged; or it’s possible that we are that person. Numerous studies show that it all stems from childhood, which probably doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. Basically, the more you hug the people you love, specifically a developing baby, the impact it will have in their adulthood is tremendous.

The main thing I took away was, hug more. Hug your children, your parents, your friends and your significant other. The world sure can use more hugs.

Visit here to learn more about the No Baby Unhugged program and here for a coupon for Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers.

“My experience at Huggies Parents Council left me so inspired by the work they are doing in the community, that I plan to make donations to several local organizations this holiday season! More information on one of these initiatives is to come in my next post.”

Huggies – the fastest growing diaper brand in U.S. hospitals – believes deeply in the Power of Hugs, which is why every diaper and wipe is inspired by a parent’s embrace. The Huggies No Baby Unhugged program helps ensure all babies get the hugs they need to thrive by supporting hugging programs in hospitals and donating diapers across the country. Learn how you can help at Huggies.com/NoBabyUnhugged.

Sponsored By Huggies

 photography (with the exception of the hospital shots) by Julia Xanthos Liddy.