What is Kangaroo Care? Why Should You Hold Your Newborn Close?
Kangaroo care is a way for you to hold and touch your baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. It gets its name from the way a kangaroo would hold her baby in her pouch. This skin-to-skin holding method is used with newborns (most often preterm babies).
Tanya Cahill, MD, a neonatologist at Cincinnati Children's, states there are many benefits to this skin-to-skin contact for both babies and parents such as:
- More stable heart rates and breathing patterns
- Better sleep
- Improved bonding
- Breastfeeding moms tend to have a better milk supply
