“Touching” - Why Ashley Montagu’s Classic Inspires My Work with Mothers and Babies
I recently revisited Ashley Montagu’s book Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin, and I have to say - I’m completely amazed. Even though it was first published in 1971, its insights feel as urgent and relevant today as ever, especially for anyone supporting mothers and newborns through body-centered care.
Montagu writes, “Touch is the first language, the one through which the infant first experiences love, security, and the world itself.” This sentence alone stopped me in my tracks. Before words, before sight, before sound - touch is how babies know they are safe, seen, and loved. From the moment we are in the womb, physical contact shapes our nervous system, emotional regulation, and sense of security. For newborns, touch isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline.
Montagu draws on decades of research in anthropology, psychology, and physiology to show that consistent, nurturing touch:
Promotes healthy growth and immune function in infants
Reduces stress for both mother and baby
Strengthens bonding and attachment
Supports neurological development
Enhances emotional resilience throughout life
Why This Matters for Mother-Baby Bodywork
Reading Montagu reminded me why touch is at the very heart of my work as a doula and baby specialist. His research isn’t just academic - it’s practical guidance that shapes every session I offer.
Skin-to-Skin is Foundational
Montagu shows that skin-to-skin contact isn’t just comforting - it regulates a baby’s heartbeat, temperature, and stress hormones. In my practice, whether it’s guiding a new mother to hold her newborn, or incorporating gentle infant massage, these moments are intentionally designed to support both physiological and emotional well-being.
Touch is Therapeutic, Not Optional
He writes, “Gentle touch is as essential as nourishment to the infant’s growth and development.” I carry this into my postpartum sessions with mothers - whether through guided stretching, or nurturing massage, touch becomes a pathway for release, reconnection, and emotional recovery.
A Developmental and Relational Framework
Seeing touch as a “first language” gives me a roadmap. Techniques can be sequenced to align with a baby’s sensory development and a mother’s needs, creating sessions that are attuned, respectful, and profoundly effective. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to strengthen the bond between mother and child.
Intentionality Matters
Montagu reminds us that touch is never neutral. Presence, empathy, and gentleness transform a simple gesture into a deeply nourishing experience. For me, that is the essence of bodywork with mothers and babies: mindful touch that communicates care, respect, and attunement.
Bringing Montagu into Modern Practice
Even decades after it was written, Montagu’s book remains a guiding light. Modern research in neurodevelopment, epigenetics, and somatic therapy confirms his core message: touch shapes humans from their earliest moments.
In my practice, this looks like:
Prioritizing skin-to-skin and gentle, rhythmic touch in every session
Incorporating Rebozo support, Marma Massage, or Moxa therapy with conscious awareness of sensory experience
Educating parents on the profound importance of responsive touch at home
Montagu’s work isn’t just history. It’s a blueprint for nurturing, mindful, and scientifically-informed touch. Reading it has renewed my commitment to making touch central in every interaction - because in those simple, intentional gestures, we are supporting growth, emotional health, and lifelong connection between mother and baby.
