In every hospital, clinic, and healthcare center I’ve walked into, there is one group of professionals who always leave me in awe: nurses.
Nurses are often the first to comfort a scared child, the ones who notice subtle changes others miss, and the ones who hold the emotional well-being of the family right alongside the clinical care of the patient. They are caregivers, advocates, educators, and protectors, all wrapped into one.
It’s no surprise, then, that more and more nurses are turning to pediatric touch therapy as a powerful tool in their care toolbox.
Touch as Compassionate Care
Touch is often called the first sense to develop and the last to fade, and nurses, with their hands-on presence, know this deeply. But touch therapy goes beyond a reassuring pat on the back. It’s a structured, respectful approach that supports:
- Reducing stress in pediatric patients
- Soothing pain and promoting relaxation
- Creating stronger nurse-patient trust
- Helping children feel safe during medical care
Whether it’s a quick hand massage before an IV insertion or a few minutes of calming techniques on the back post-surgery, nurses see firsthand how even a brief moment of touch can change a child’s experience.
Supporting Nurses in Every Setting
I’ve had the privilege of training nurses in NICUs, PICUs, outpatient clinics, and global community healthcare. What’s remarkable is how flexible and adaptable pediatric touch therapy is across all of these settings.
- In the NICU, touch therapy can promote bonding between babies and parents and even help regulate vital signs.
- In hospice care, it offers comfort and emotional connection during the most vulnerable times.
- In general pediatrics, it reduces anxiety around medical procedures and creates calmer clinical environments.
Education That Empowers Practice
One reason nurses embrace touch therapy is because it builds on what they already do so well, connecting with patients. Our training at Liddle Kidz® Foundation provides nurses with:
- Evidence-informed techniques
- A clear understanding of safety and contraindications
- Guidance on communication and consent
- Lifetime access to resources and support
It’s more than a technique, it becomes part of how they see their care.
Nurses Deserve Tools That Nurture Them Too
One thing I often say when teaching is: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Nurses are at the heart of patient care, and their emotional and physical exhaustion is real. I’ve seen how learning touch therapy not only helps nurses care better for their patients, it often reminds them why they started in the first place.
It slows them down. It gives them moments of meaning. It makes space for connection.
Changing the Culture of Care
As more nurses embrace pediatric touch therapy, a quiet shift is happening. Care is becoming more human. Healing is becoming more holistic. Families are feeling seen. Children are feeling empowered.
And nurses? They’re leading the way.
