A baby arrives with a natural response that turns on whenever the skin feels gentle and steady touch. The tiny sensors in the skin send quiet messages deep into the brain, telling it that the environment is safe. The heart rate eases, the breathing becomes smoother, and the whole body begins to soften. This reflex is already formed before birth because the baby has lived in constant contact with the womb. When a parent holds or softly strokes a baby, the calming system becomes even stronger. The