Gentle touch – supporting your baby’s self-awareness with touch

What to try 

When you are playing with your baby you can help them to develop self-awareness through gentle touch.  

• Sit with them on your knee and gently touch or stroke part of their body saying, “Here’s your arm, there’s your hand and your fingers... one, two, three, four, five.” 
• Notice how your baby responds.  
• Adjust your touch or change the place you are stroking them if their response shows they would like a change.  

Good to know 

We all have different preferences for touch and if you are too gentle it might be ticklish, so your baby might prefer a slightly firmer touch.