Skin-to-skin contact has physical and emotional benefits for babies and their parents.
It helps your baby transition to the outside world, and kick-starts the bonding process.
Was this article helpful?
We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing.
Learn more about oureditorial and medical review policies.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Healthychildren.orgOpens a new window.https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/preemie/Pages/About-Skin-to-Skin-Care.aspxOpens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
AAP.
Safe sleep and skin-to-skin care in the neonatal period for healthy term newborns.
The American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report.
Pediatrics e2016188https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2016-1889/52741/Safe-Sleep-and-Skin-to-Skin-Care-in-the-NeonatalOpens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
Bystrova K et al.
Early contact versus separation: Effects on mother-infant interaction one year later.
Exploratory study of fathers providing Kangaroo Care in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Influence of skin-to skin contact and rooming-in on early mother-infant interactions: A randomized controlled trial.
Effects of paternal skin-to-skin contact in newborns and fathers after cesarean delivery.
Mother-infant contact after birth can reduce postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms through a reduction in birth-related fear and guilt.
Journal of Psychosomatic research 154.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022399922000010Opens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
Li Z et al.
Immediate skin-to-skin contact may have beneficial effects on the cardiorespiratory stabilization in very preterm infants.
Experiences of Xhosa women providing Kangaroo mother care in a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants.
Cochrane Library.https://www.cochrane.org/CD003519/PREG_early-skin-skin-contact-mothers-and-their-healthy-newborn-infantsOpens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
Safari K et al 2018.
Exploring outcomes for women and neonates having skin-to-skin contact during caesarian birth: A quasi-experimental design and qualitative study.
JAMA connection Open.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8063066/Opens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
Wang Y et al.
Positive Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care on Long-Term Breastfeeding Rates, Growth, and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants.
Breastfeeding Medicine 16(4): 282-291.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33533688/Opens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
WHO.
Immediate “Kangaroo Mother Care” and survival of infants with low birth weight.
Skin-to-skin hit up the first hour after birth, underlying implications and clinical practice.
Acta Paediatrica 108(7): 1192-1204.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6949952/Opens a new window[Accessed December 2023]
