Babies and even newborns have keen sense of touch and they recognize emotions through touch. While hugs and kisses can soothe a baby or make him happy, any hurtful experience can shake him thoroughly. Here are some ways where importance of ‘touch’ can be clearly seen in infants:

* Babies love to feel with their hands and fingers and may use their mouths too for further exploration. So, at about 4 months of age, they put almost everything they can get their hands on, in their mouths.
* Babies love to touch and feel books, toys and other things with variety of textures. New textures can be challenging and exciting to them. Older babies can also differentiate between rough and smooth textures and contrast of textures.
* Little accidents such as banging their head against the legs of the table may be hurtful but it teaches the baby, the importance of limits and to keep away from things that are sharp or hot or may hurt them.
* Newborns, just out of their mother’s womb, feel secure and snug in the warm and soft baby blankets or tucked in wraps and swaddling can soothe them almost immediately.