Patient education: Skin-to-skin care with your newborn (The Basics)

What is skin-to-skin care? — 

This is when you hold your baby so your skin is touching (figure 1). This is also sometimes called "kangaroo care."

Parents or caregivers can hold almost all babies skin-to-skin. Even babies who are born very early or who are sick can benefit from skin-to-skin care. It can start right after a baby is born and continue after your baby goes home from the hospital. You can do skin-to-skin care with your baby as long as you both enjoy it.

Why should I do skin-to-skin care? — 

Skin-to-skin care is good for both the parents or caregivers and the baby.

Skin-to-skin care can help parents and caregivers:

●Bond with their baby

●Feel calm

●Become more confident in caring for and handling their baby

●With breastfeeding and increasing milk supply

●Recognize cues the baby is ready to eat

Skin-to-skin care can help babies:

●Keep their temperature, heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure normal

●Cry less, and sleep more deeply

●Gain weight

●Breastfeed

●Reduce stress levels, especially with painful procedures

●Bond with their parents or caregivers

How do I do skin-to-skin care with my baby? — 

Sit in a comfortable chair, or lie back in bed with your head raised. Wear clothes that can open in the front. Snuggle your baby against your bare chest. Cover the baby with a blanket or your shirt to help keep them warm.

Follow your baby's signals or "cues" to understand how they feel during skin-to-skin care. For example, if they are resting quietly, breathing comfortably, have their eyes open, or turn toward your voice, these might be signs they are relaxed. If your baby is arching their back, scowling, or crying, they might feel stressed. These can be signs they need rest and quiet, and you might need to stop skin-to-skin care.

Even doing skin-to-skin care for a few minutes a day can have benefits. Longer sessions (1 hour or more) might be more helpful for breastfeeding.

Here are some more tips:

●If you like, your baby can wear a diaper and hat during skin-to-skin care.

●While holding your baby skin-to-skin, try to relax and focus on the baby. Put away phones and electronic devices.

●Make sure you are healthy before doing skin-to-skin care. Your baby's immune system is not fully mature when they are born. It's important to avoid exposing them to germs if you are sick.

●Make sure your skin is clean and you do not have any sores or rashes where you will hold your baby.

●Do not smoke or drink hot beverages while holding your baby.

●Do not fall asleep while doing skin-to-skin care with your baby. This can raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome ("SIDS").

More on this topic

Patient education: Caring for your newborn (The Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (The Basics)
Patient education: Safe sleep for babies (The Basics)
Patient education: Colic (The Basics)
Patient education: When a baby is born premature (The Basics)
Patient education: What to expect in the NICU (The Basics)
Patient education: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (The Basics)

Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (Beyond the Basics)