Study reveals moms boost babies’ ‘love hormone’ by talking about feelings

A newly published study from University College London (UCL), highlighted on Science Daily, has revealed a fascinating link between the words you use when talking to your baby and their oxytocin levels. 

Often dubbed the ‘love hormone,’ oxytocin plays a critical role in social bonding, trust, and emotional understanding. According to new research published in Development and Psychopathology, the way you talk to your baby—especially when you tune into their feelings—can have a measurable impact on their emotional and social development.

The science behind the study

The study observed 62 mother-infant pairs—mothers aged 23 to 44 and their infants aged three to nine months—during natural interactions. Researchers analyzed how well mothers referred to their babies’ internal experiences—like their thoughts, feelings, and desires—during just five minutes of playtime. For instance, if your baby shows interest in a toy, you might say, “Oh, you like this toy” or “You’re excited,” mirroring their emotions and actions.

Saliva samples were collected from the infants to measure oxytocin levels, and the results were striking: babies whose mothers regularly acknowledged their feelings had significantly higher oxytocin levels.

Lead researcher Dr. Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences explains, “It has long been known that the hormone oxytocin is involved in intimate social relationships, including the attachment bond between a mother and her child. We have, for the first time, discovered that the amount that a mother talks to their infant about their infant’s thoughts and feelings is directly correlated with their infant’s oxytocin levels.”

This finding sheds light on the critical role oxytocin plays in shaping early social experiences, directly influenced by how parents engage with their infants.

Related: It’s science: infants learn better when we use ‘baby talk’

The importance of attuned communication

The study also revealed that mothers experiencing postnatal depression were less likely to reference their babies’ internal states compared to those not experiencing depression. This highlights the importance of supporting maternal mental health, not just for your own well-being but also to help your baby thrive socially and emotionally.

Dr. Lindley Baron-Cohen emphasized:

“This study demonstrates a new psychobiological link between mothers and their infants. It highlights the key role mothers play in their child’s early development and indicates how mothers who are experiencing depression could be supported to facilitate their child’s social development.”

Why this matters

Oxytocin plays a big part in shaping your baby’s emotional and social growth during those crucial early months. By simply acknowledging and mirroring your baby’s feelings and actions, you’re helping to build their emotional resilience and social understanding.

This discovery underscores the lasting benefits of emotionally sensitive parenting and its role in nurturing emotional resilience and social understanding.

Related: The science behind why baby laughter is so good for you—and the viral TikTok that proves it

Sources:

1. Language used by mothers affects oxytocin levels of infants. 2024. ScienceDaily. Language used by mothers affects oxytocin levels of infants.
2. Language used by mothers affects oxytocin levels of infants. 2024. UCL News. Language used by mothers affects oxytocin levels of infants.