This blog has been medically reviewed by Emily Nicol, pediatric nurse practitioner and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant at Children’s Minnesota.
Why is skin-to-skin important? Beyond it being comfortable and helping parents build a bond with their newborn, skin-to-skin contact or kangaroo care has been shown to have many medical benefits!
Kangaroo care is great for all newborns, but especially beneficial for babies that were born prematurely due to how the skin-to-skin contact can help support a baby’s physical health and promote breastfeeding. Keep reading to learn more about what kangaroo care is, the benefits and how long to do skin-to-skin for.
Connect with a trusted provider at The Mother Baby Center to get expert pregnancy and postpartum care and support during your birthing journey.
What is kangaroo care?
If you’ve just discovered kangaroo care and are wondering what kangaroo care is, you’re in the right place! Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact with your newborn that provides many benefits like nurturing or building a bond, helping with temperature regulation, and promoting overall well-being by encouraging breastfeeding and growth.
If deemed safe to do so, families with newborns in the NICU can also incorporate kangaroo care into their routine. However, families should seek guidance from their care team on how to do it with a premature baby, how often and for how long.
What is skin-to-skin contact?
While the terms kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact are often used interchangeably, their meaning can differ slightly in the context of labor and delivery. During this time, skin-to-skin contact refers to when your baby is cleaned off and then placed on your chest immediately after birth to kickstart breastfeeding and foster bonding.
A study done in 2021 has also found that immediate skin-to-skin contact with very low birth weight or premature babies is associated with decreased infant mortality. Because the ideal duration or how long to do skin-to-skin after birth can vary depending on each patient’s needs, it’s important to consult your care team for personalized guidance.
Why is skin-to-skin important for newborns?
The origin of kangaroo care actually started with premature babies back in the late 1970s. It was used as an alternative to incubators to help babies stay warm using the body heat of their mom so that they can reserve the rest of their energy for growing. Besides temperature regulation, skin-to-skin contact can also help stabilize babies by regulating their heart rate and breathing, reduce stress, and improve sleep, leading to the promotion of overall well-being and growth.
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How to do skin-to-skin
Before starting kangaroo care, it is important to talk to someone from your baby’s care team about their recommendations and what may be best for your baby. Things like how long should you skin-to-skin for and how to properly do it can be different for a healthy baby versus a baby in the NICU.
Below are some basic steps of what kangaroo care involves to help your family get started or familiarized with the idea.
- Find time: Generally, each kangaroo care session should last for an hour or two to get the most benefits of holding your baby. Blocking time off to do this where you won’t be disrupted is important.
- Dress comfortably: Wear something that will make it easy for you to open the front. At the hospital, this can be your hospital gown, and at home, you can wear a shirt that opens at the front or a zip-up hoodie. Breastfeeding moms can also choose to not wear a bra to give baby easy access and increase interest in breastfeeding.
- Place your baby on your chest: Your baby should be placed in an upright position where their head is resting on your chest. During kangaroo care, your baby should also not be wearing clothes for skin-to-skin contact. However, they can still wear a diaper and hat, gloves or socks to help keep them warm. You can also place a blanket over your baby as well.
- Relax and enjoy: Kangaroo care is a time for both the parent and baby to rest and relax. It is not uncommon for your baby to fall asleep during skin-to-skin. Head to our 5 S’s to soothe and comfort a baby blog for more expert tips.
Skin-to-skin for babies with breathing tube
If your baby has a breathing tube and is in the hospital, it is important to get the help of a nurse. They should be the ones moving your baby and helping you adjust because anytime a baby moves, there is a chance that their breathing tube may also move. While doing skin-to-skin with a baby with a breathing tube, it is also recommended for families to stay close to a call light in the scenario that you need help later.
Benefits of skin-to-skin for babies and parents
Why is skin-to-skin important for newborns? Skin-to-skin allows newborns to enter a relaxed and calm state, thus regulating their heartbeat, breathing, temperature, and improved sleep. The benefits of skin-to-skin do not just stop at babies. Skin-to-skin has been shown to reduce stress for both babies and caregivers, increase breastmilk production and consumption, and nurture bonding. All these benefits of kangaroo care show the importance of skin-to-skin and are crucial to the overall health of newborns, especially premature babies who may need help with weight gain.
Find a trusted provider at The Mother Baby Center
Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin contact is one of the best ways to support our baby’s overall health due to its physical and emotional benefits. Knowing how to do kangaroo care and the precautions to take with a newborn that was born early or in the NICU can help parents feel more confident incorporating skin-to-skin into their daily routine.
At The Mother Baby Center, we are ready to help guide families every step of the way, whether it be through pregnancy or kangaroo care. Find a provider that would best fit your family’s needs and check out other services that we offer after your baby is born.