A Baby's Cry, a Mother's Touch

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" A Baby's Cry, a Mother's Touch "

Washington Post (03/29/99) P. A9

Researchers studying infants during routine visits to their

doctors for shots have found that the mother's touch may do

little in reducing the babies' stress. The findings, reported in

the February issue of the journal Child Development, showed no

reduction in levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, or in how the

infants acted. The scientists, from the Wood

Medical School in New Jersey, suggested that mothers who comfort

their babies " also provide positive environments which may

prevent distress from occurring. "