Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Kangaroo Care
Also called "skin-to-skin" care, Kangaroo Care helps parents to bond with their baby. To do this, a parent or family member holds the baby (in a diaper) against the bare skin of their chest, or between the mother's breasts, with a blanket over the baby's back to keep the baby warm. With skin-to-skin contact, babies can maintain a consistent temperature and heart rate. Studies show that skin contact help babies gain weight faster, reduces maternal depression and further develops a mother-baby relationship. Kangaroo Care has also been shown to help premature infants grow, graduate from their incubators sooner, and achieve deeper, more restful sleep. Parents who routinely provide kangaroo care are more comfortable caring for their infants and are better prepared to take them home when the baby is ready to be discharged.
