World Breastfeeding Week 2025 Blog 3: Responsive Feeding

To mark World Breastfeeding Week 2025, Debra Hennessy IBCLC at Family Nursing and Home Care (FNHC), and Deborah McCoy Certified Breastfeeding Specialist Midwife at Health Care Jersey (HCJ), have collaborated on a series of Blogs to celebrate the week.

Blog 3 – Responsive Feeding

Gone are the days when parents were told to “get their baby into a strict routine” or “feed every 4 hours” or “stop picking the baby up in case you spoil them”!

As neuroscience has progressed, we now have a clearer picture of how a baby’s brain development is greatly influenced by their experiences under the influence of oxytocin, the “love” hormone and cortisol, the “stress” hormone.

Your baby’s brain starts to grow during pregnancy and by birth they have most of their brain cells in place.

After birth, babies begin to become attuned to their social environment and start to develop connections between brain cells based on their experiences outside of the womb.

For example, when babies are in close contact with their mothers during breastfeeding, cuddling or in skin-to-skin contact, both release oxytocin, the “love” or “bonding” hormone. Stress is reduced and both mother and baby will feel a sense of wellbeing.

Fathers also experience a change in hormones as they transition into fatherhood. Testosterone drops and oxytocin is elevated the more they interact and take part in a nurturing and caregiving role.

The more a baby is exposed to a particular experience, the stronger these neural pathways become. A baby that is exposed to continual stress resulting in high levels of cortisol may result in them remaining in a state of hyper arousal, having a negative impact on their ability in later life to cope and manage stressful situations.  It is thought that this can result in problems with depression, anxiety and poor mental health outcomes into adulthood.

Conversely, babies who experience responsive parenting, close contact and comfort thrive developmentally under the influence of oxytocin. Later, they are better equipped to manage their emotions and stressful situations independently throughout their life.

So pick up your baby, feed as often as they want to, hold them in skin to skin, cuddle them and watch them thrive!