Kangaroo Care for NICU Babies: What is it, Benefits and More
Kangaroo Care is a method that can help you bond with your baby and promote their development. Lay your diapered baby on your bare chest so that they can feel the skin-to-skin contact.
In the late 1970s, the Instituto Materno Infantil in Bogotá, Colombia was the country’s largest neonatal unit, and the hospital was overwhelmed delivering 30,000 babies every year.1 Despite the hospital staff’s best efforts, overcrowded incubators and rampant infection made it difficult to save babies who were born prematurely, until Dr. Edgar Rey happened to come across a paper about how kangaroos are born.
Bald and peanut-sized, kangaroo babies are born immature and need special care, much like a preterm human baby. But the baby kangaroos are able to stay warm in their mother’s pouch, where they enjoy skin-to-skin contact and unlimited access to milk until they grow large enough to emerge. Dr. Rey wondered if there would be any benefit to human babies if their mothers carried them in a similar fashion–and it certainly did.
Death rates plummeted immediately, space freed up in the incubators, and more and more mothers were going home with their babies as the practice was adopted throughout the hospital–and soon, the world.
What are the Benefits of Kangaroo Care?
Benefit 1: Enhanced Bonding and Emotional Connection
Kangaroo Care promotes a strong bond between you and your baby. The close physical contact releases hormones like oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone." This hormone fosters feelings of love, affection, and attachment, helping you and your baby form a deep emotional connection–and can reduce mom’s stress as much as baby’s!2
Benefit 2: Improved Health and Stability
Skin-to-skin contact through Kangaroo Care has been shown to stabilize a premature baby's heart rate, breathing patterns, and body temperature.3
Benefit 3: Enhanced Brain Development
Kangaroo Care has a positive impact on a baby's brain development.4 The sensory stimulation from being held skin-to-skin helps the baby's brain develop regulatory abilities and secure attachment.
Who Can Practice Kangaroo Care?
A common misconception is that only mothers can or should provide kangaroo care–it’s also beneficial for babies to experience kangaroo care with dad! Your baby’s grandparents, older siblings, and other family members can also provide kangaroo care to bond with the baby.
How to Safely Practice Kangaroo Care
While Kangaroo Care is generally safe and beneficial, it is essential to first seek guidance from your baby's doctors and nurses to ensure Kangaroo Care is appropriate for your baby's specific health condition and needs.
- Find a comfortable and quiet environment: Choose a calm and peaceful area to practice Kangaroo Care, free from excessive noise or distractions.
- Maintain proper positioning: Position your baby upright on your bare chest, ensuring their face is visible and their nose and mouth are unobstructed for breathing.
- Keep an eye on your baby's comfort level during Kangaroo Care. If they show indications of discomfort or distress, gently readjust their position or end the session.
- Practice good hygiene: Follow proper handwashing and hygiene protocols before each session to minimize the risk of infection.
- Remember, every moment of Kangaroo Care contributes to your baby's growth and well-being. Be patient, enjoy the closeness, and let the power of touch nurture your precious little one.
Join Enfamil Family Beginnings® and Embrace the Journey
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References
1Kangaroo care: The radical skin-to-skin approach to saving premature babies. The Guardian. March 3, 2017. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/mar/03/kangaroo-care-the-radical-skin-to-skin-approach-to-saving-premature-babies.
2Badr HA, Zauszniewski JA. Kangaroo care and postpartum depression: The role of oxytocin. Int J Nurs Sci. 2017;4(2):179-183. Published 2017 Jan 5. doi:10.1016/j.ijnss.2017.01.00 1 [Katina Langley]
3McCain GC, LudingtonHoe SM, Swinth JY, Hadeed AJ. Heart rate variability responses of a preterm infant to kangaroo care. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2005;34(6):689-694. doi:10.1177/08842175052818 57
4Mother/infant skin-to-skin touch boosts baby’s brain development and function. ScienceDaily. March 25, 2020. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325110913.htm.
