Skin-to-skin contact, also known as “kangaroo care,” is one of the most powerful ways to bond with your newborn, and its benefits go far beyond that first touch. This practice involves holding your baby directly against your skin, often on the chest, in the first moments or hours after birth. But its importance doesn’t end there—skin-to-skin contact provides emotional, physical, and developmental benefits for both parents and babies that last long after birth.
Let’s explore the reasons why skin-to-skin contact is so important for both you and your newborn.
The Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
1. Enhances Emotional Bonding
From the moment your baby is placed on your chest, there’s a deep, emotional connection that begins to form. This first skin-to-skin contact can help reduce stress for both you and your baby and increase feelings of comfort and safety.
Studies have shown that this intimate time can help strengthen the emotional bond between parents and their newborns, laying the foundation for trust, affection, and a secure attachment.
How to Support It:
- Aim for skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth if possible, and continue to do it often in the days and weeks that follow.
- Encourage your partner to participate as well—fathers or second parents can also benefit from this bonding experience.
2. Regulates Baby’s Body Temperature
One of the body’s remarkable reactions during skin-to-skin contact is its ability to regulate the baby’s body temperature. When placed against your chest, your body helps to keep your baby warm by providing a steady temperature, which is crucial for newborns who can’t regulate their body heat on their own.
How to Support It:
- Make sure that your baby is dressed in just a diaper for optimal skin-to-skin contact.
- Be mindful of room temperature to ensure both you and your baby are comfortable during this time.
3. Boosts Baby’s Immune System
Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to support the newborn’s immune system by exposing them to beneficial bacteria found on the parent’s skin. This helps to boost your baby’s immune defenses, making them better prepared to fight infections.
How to Support It:
- Continue practicing skin-to-skin contact regularly, especially if your baby was born prematurely or had a low birth weight.
- Encourage your baby’s caregivers to practice it as well.
4. Reduces Crying and Stress
Research suggests that babies who experience regular skin-to-skin contact cry less and experience lower levels of stress. The comforting feeling of being close to their parent helps babies feel more secure, reducing their need to cry and helping to settle them.
How to Support It:
- Use skin-to-skin contact as a soothing method during fussy moments, especially in the early days.
- Take the time to sit quietly with your baby, focusing on the bond and comfort, without distractions.
5. Promotes Breastfeeding Success
Skin-to-skin contact plays a significant role in establishing breastfeeding. The close contact helps stimulate your baby’s natural feeding instincts, making it easier for them to latch on and nurse. This can be particularly helpful in the early days when both mother and baby are learning to breastfeed.
How to Support It:
- After delivery, hold your baby skin-to-skin as soon as possible, which can help stimulate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for support from lactation consultants if you face challenges with breastfeeding.
6. Enhances Brain Development
The calming, nurturing effects of skin-to-skin contact are not just beneficial for your baby’s emotional health—they also impact their brain development. Studies have shown that babies who experience more skin-to-skin contact in their early weeks tend to have better brain function and are more likely to meet developmental milestones earlier.
How to Support It:
- Make skin-to-skin contact a part of your daily routine. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, this time will benefit your baby’s long-term development.
The Role of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Parents
Skin-to-skin contact is not only beneficial for the baby, but it also offers numerous advantages for parents. It can help reduce feelings of anxiety or postpartum depression, create a sense of confidence in new parents, and promote relaxation through the release of oxytocin (the “love hormone”).
1. Strengthens Parenting Confidence
The more time you spend holding your baby skin-to-skin, the more confident you may feel in your ability to care for them. This bonding time helps parents learn their baby’s cues and needs, creating a stronger sense of connection and trust in their parenting skills.
2. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
For many new parents, skin-to-skin contact can be a calming experience. It triggers the release of oxytocin, which reduces stress, anxiety, and even the risk of postpartum depression. This hormone can help you feel more relaxed and connected to your baby.
How to Support It:
- Take advantage of quiet moments with your baby, and use this time to destress. Relax, breathe deeply, and enjoy the moment of connection.
3. Encourages Bonding with Both Parents
Skin-to-skin contact isn’t just for mothers—it’s important for fathers or second parents as well. Research shows that fathers who engage in skin-to-skin contact experience an increase in bonding hormones like oxytocin and can feel a stronger connection to their baby.
How to Support It:
- Encourage both parents to hold the baby skin-to-skin. The experience can be just as impactful for fathers and second parents as it is for mothers.
How to Practice Skin-to-Skin Contact
- Right After Birth: Ideally, skin-to-skin contact should begin immediately after birth, during the first “golden hour.” Most hospitals will encourage this practice, and it’s highly recommended for bonding.
- In the Early Weeks: Even after the initial moments of birth, try to practice skin-to-skin contact as often as possible during the first few weeks.
- At Home: At home, set aside some quiet time each day to hold your baby close, skin-to-skin. It’s a great way to bond and settle them before nap or bedtime.
Final Thoughts
Skin-to-skin contact is one of the most beneficial experiences for both you and your newborn. It not only creates a strong emotional bond but also promotes physical, developmental, and psychological benefits for both parents and babies. Whether you’re in the delivery room or at home, make time for this simple yet powerful practice. It’s one of the most meaningful ways to nurture your baby beyond birth.
Sources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics: The Importance of Skin-to-Skin Contact
- Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing: Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact
- Mayo Clinic: Skin-to-Skin Contact and Its Benefits
targeted toward Parents.
We understand that there are many aspects that encompass a Mother, Father or Child and strive toward providing resources and services that accommodates
this.
Our content is aimed to inform and educate families on issues starting from
pregnancy through to the challenges of the teen-age years.
- The Art of Saying No (Without the Guilt Trip) - June 9, 2025
- Understanding the hidden link between inflammation and your child’s cough - June 6, 2025
- Sensory Play with Everyday Kitchen Items: Learning Through the Senses - June 6, 2025
to motherhood because it is not easy but we are greatful for each day
I used to love holding my baby skin to skin everyday just admiring her,good to know it had all these benefits that comes with it☺️