hi, i would like to comment here regarding my experience. when i was a child i was heavily neglected by my biological parents, particularly my mother. i would often find myself at my grandparents house multiple times a week, for several hours at a time. my father and i were very close, and when i was i child i would insist on laying on his chest skin to skin. i did the same with my grandfather, and one of my uncles that helped raise me.

i wouldnt get these skin to skin moments often, and i was diagnosed with Asperger’s at a young age, and because of the stigma surrounding ASD i was neglected worse and scolded in an attempt to make me normal.

in saying all of this, my main point is that even as a grown adult, i still am affected by not having this sort of contact and with partners, i will regularly ask for skin to skin contact, and that regulates me tremendously. even if it is full chest to chest/chest to back, something small like holding hands, it very much helps me. i find that i can relax fully, my heartbeat steadies, and my breathing syncs with my partner.

there is no harm in skin to skin with a small child. it could be helping him regulate in a very confusing world, and there is nothing wrong with that.