Skin to Skin | Kangaroo Care

Newborn babies can be soothed by skin-to-skin contact with their parents. The soothing feeling of skin-to-skin contact helps newborns regulate their body temperature, breathing, and heart rate and helps in their growth and development. It’s also a wonderful way to bond with your newborn.

What is skin-to-skin contact?

Skin-to-skin contact, or kangaroo care, is a common care method for newborns. Mothers or fathers can hold their baby on their chest without clothing, having skin-to-skin contact. The baby can hear and feel his or her parent's breathing and voice, which soothes them. Skin-to-skin contact can help a baby adjust to life outside the womb.

What babies receive skin-to-skin contact?

Any infant can benefit from skin-to-skin contact.

All parents can use skin-to-skin contact to promote bonding and good health of their baby.

What are the benefits of skin-to-skin contact?

 Skin-to-skin contact can:

• Increase breast milk production in mother
• Increase bonding between parents and their baby
• Regulate heart rate and temperature
• Regulate sleeping patterns
• Promote weight gain
• Promote healthy feeding habits
• Decrease stress in mother
• Decrease infection risks
• Decrease crying
• Decrease hospital stay

Ask your provider how skin-to-skin care can benefit your newborn and what you can do to help.