Skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, is a beautiful practice that offers numerous benefits for both newborns and parents alike. Kangaroo care is the practice of holding your baby to your chest for skin-to-skin contact. Your baby only wears a diaper and possibly socks to keep themselves warm. Resting them against your bare chest provides a special touch experience that can help you and your baby bond.
Kangaroo care starts as soon as you see your baby for the first time after birth in the hospital. How long you hold the baby against your skin depends on you and the baby’s medical needs. Mostly, kangaroo care is practiced by the mother of the child and is known as kangaroo mother care. However, other family members and caregivers can also practice kangaroo care with the newborn baby.
How does Kangaroo care work?
Doctors generally advise long sessions of kangaroo care with the newborn baby, as longer sessions have more benefits. Here are a few things to keep in mind while practicing kangaroo care.
1. Dress comfortably.
2. Place the baby on your chest
3. Cover your baby.
4. Relax together.
5. Plan multiple sessions.
Let's explore five amazing advantages of embracing this intimate bonding experience with your little one:
Promotes Bonding:
Skin-to-skin contact strengthens the emotional bond between parent and baby. The warmth and closeness shared during this time create a sense of security and trust, fostering a deep connection that lays the foundation for a strong parent-child relationship.
Regulates Body Temperature:
During pregnancy, a mother maintains the baby’s temperature by sweating when hot and shivering and moving around when cold. After birth, the baby takes some time to acquire the same abilities in the new environment. Therefore, newborns are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, and skin-to-skin contact helps regulate their body temperature more effectively than an external heat source. The warmth provided by a parent's body helps keep the baby's temperature stable, reducing the risk of hypothermia and promoting overall comfort. Skin-to-skin care by a mother is better than the nursery warmer for a baby.
Enhances Breastfeeding Success:
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth has improved breastfeeding initiation and success. The proximity to the mother's breast stimulates the baby's natural feeding instincts, leading to better latch-on and increased milk production. This early breastfeeding experience sets the stage for a positive breastfeeding journey.
Supports Brain Development:
The soothing touch of skin-to-skin contact has a calming effect on newborns, reducing stress hormones and promoting relaxation. This tranquil state enhances brain development by allowing the baby to focus on growing neural connections and processing sensory information without unnecessary distractions.
Boosts Immunity:
The beneficial bacteria found on the mother's skin can transfer to the baby during skin-to-skin contact, helping to establish a healthy microbiome and strengthen the baby's immune system. This natural transfer of microbes contributes to long-term immunity and protection against infections and allergies.
Feeling your baby’s skin and warmth around your warm body allows a special closeness for you both. Monitor your baby during kangaroo care by observing their position, respiratory rate, chest movement, and maintaining a clear airway. Having skin-to-skin contact with your baby has many benefits for both of you. This can facilitate the regulation of temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar levels in your baby. It encourages breastfeeding. The feeling of safety helps your baby feel safe, which in turn reduces some of the crying. In addition, it strengthens the bond between members of the family.
