Skin-to-skin care

"Skin-to-skin" care is when you hold your baby so your skin is touching. Sometimes, this is called "kangaroo care." The best way to do this is for the baby to be in a diaper and held against your bare chest. The baby should be covered with your shirt or a blanket to keep them warm.

This can help:

• You bond with your baby – It can also help you both feel calmer.
• With breastfeeding – This contact makes it easier to tell when your baby is hungry. A hungry baby might move their mouth like they are trying to suck, or crawl toward your breast or nipple. If you are breastfeeding, it can help your baby learn how. It also might help you produce more milk.
• Comfort the baby – Doctors have found that skin-to-skin contact can also help babies control their heart rate, breathing, and temperature. It might also help your baby cry less.