Are you yearning for a nice warm cuddle with a friend or family? Cuddling is a form of expression that people use with loved ones. It conveys love, trust, bonding, intimacy, and much more. So, is cuddling good for health? Research has shown that it has many health benefits besides making you feel cozy. In this blog, let’s delve into the benefits of cuddling.
Your body releases the hormone oxytocin whenever you cuddle with a loved one. As a result, you feel good; hence, oxytocin is also known as the “love or cuddle hormone.” From this, you will be able to understand that there are so many health benefits to cuddling that even hormones get nicknamed after it!
What Is the Science Behind Cuddling?
When you cuddle with your bed partner, releasing oxytocin lowers your blood pressure and heart rate. So the cortisol levels in your body also decrease, leading to a sense of calmness and happiness. You might have heard that cortisol is a stress hormone that can disrupt your sleep. Thus, its reduction promotes a sense of calm and peace before and during your sleep.
In addition to cortisol, the feel-good hormone known as “endorphin” is also secreted while cuddling. It can reduce pain or discomfort that you might experience during sleep hours. Snuggling up to your partner can pave the way for a good night’s sleep.
What Are the Health Benefits?
Now that you know the science behind cuddling, let’s learn some of its health benefits. We have listed them below, with respect to the person/pet you cuddle.
1. Cuddle Your Baby
If you are a parent who frequently cuddles your baby, you might have found out its benefits by now! You will feel closer to your baby and also become more attentive to their needs. Parents, especially mothers, tend to feel less sad/depressed when they cuddle with their babies. So moms snuggling close to their babies will be equipped better against postpartum depression. Also Read: The scent of a newborn baby has a positive impact on the mother!
Cuddling between a father and his newborn can help the former better understand the latter’s needs. Newborns who are cuddled often also tend to sleep better and cry less. Research reveals that cuddling underweight babies increases their chances of survival.
2. Cuddle Older Children
Kids going to school might feel stressed frequently because there are always tests, assignments, and exams looming ahead of them. They need to perform exceptionally well and keep up their grades, which is emphasized both at school and at home. Try hugging your kid at least once every day to make them feel loved and stress-free. In addition, your touch and warmth will comfort and support them.
3. Cuddle Your Pet
You can cuddle your pet, depending on the signs they display. However, if your dog’s ears are turned back and its eyes are staring away from you, it might indicate stress. In such cases, refrain from holding your pet too close to your body. Instead, just a kind word or a pat on its back might be sufficient. Therefore, cuddle your pet only if it’s absolutely necessary.
Other Benefits
Cuddling boosts mental well-being. It’s also one of the best and most romantic ways to express physical intimacy between partners in a relationship. Now, let’s look at some more benefits of cuddling!
1. Improves Immunity
According to research, people who frequently hugged fell less ill than people who didn’t. Serotonin, another mood enhancer secreted while hugging, is linked to improved immunity. So give your mom, dad, or sibling a hug the next time you see them. It’s beneficial for both of you!
2. Boosts Emotional IQ
Cuddling and hugging are non-verbal forms of communication. People who find it hard to talk about their feelings can use such actions to express and make others understand their emotions. And people who are used to hugging have a better understanding of other’s struggles. In other words, such people are more empathetic towards others and have better emotional IQ.
3. Relieves Pain
As stated earlier, hugging your partner can reduce pain/discomfort during sleep. But it is not limited only to sleep hours. You can experience the advantages of a warm hug or cuddle any time of the day.
Physical pain is a burden that can never be shared, but a hug or cuddle can help one feel better during extreme moments of pain. Holding your partner’s hand when giving birth and hugging your children when they get wounded, are all actions of comfort. In a nutshell, hugging and cuddling seem to work in reducing pain at any time of the day.
Cuddling a Stuffed Animal
You might have seen several little girls (and even grown-ups!) snuggling cute teddy bears. Yes! If you feel lonely or don’t have a partner to snuggle up to, use a stuffed animal. It will have a similar effect as a cuddled person, but with the absence of heat. Try hugging a teddy or any stuffed animal on a lonely night in bed. This will help you fall asleep easily!
Cuddling Myths and Facts
Here are some common myths and facts about cuddling. Take a peek at them!
- Myth: Cuddling is uncomfortable.
Fact: It’s not always uncomfortable. Many feel relaxed and outgoing after a cuddle. Research shows that it increases the happiness quotient for many people.
- Myth: Hugging/Cuddling is restricted to your lover.
Fact: As mentioned earlier, you can cuddle with your parents, siblings, and friends too.
- Myth: Cuddling involves kissing.
Fact: No. Kissing is not necessary when you cuddle your loved ones. However, if you wish to kiss someone close to you, you can do so, provided the other person feels comfortable.
- Myth: You can cuddle a person only during bedtime.
Fact: You can do it any time of the day. You can hug or snuggle up to a loved one irrespective of whether it’s morning, afternoon, evening, or night. However, consider the place where you are doing it. Too much cuddling/hugging in a public place might not be appropriate.
- Myth: Your baby might become clingy if you cuddle him/her too much.
Fact: Your baby will feel the warmth of your cuddle and only feel better, but they will not become clingy.
It Is Therapeutic!
Here’s a quote on cuddling you will love!
“Being close to you and cuddling with you is like a gentle, soothing massage for my soul.”
– Anonymous.
The above quote says it all! Cuddling/hugging is therapeutic, so practice it every day with someone you love. But avoid overdoing it, because like everything else in this world, cuddling also must be done in moderation.
