Kangaroo Care and The Importance of Emotional Bonding with Your New “Joey”

By: Kaitlyn Freimuth 

Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin bonding, has been shown to be an incredibly beneficial practice between newborns and their parents. Because infants born prematurely are at higher risk for many health concerns, kangaroo care can be even more beneficial for them. However, due to the nature of kangaroo care and the complexity that can come with premature births, skin-to-skin bonding can look a little different for premature babies in comparison to those born full-term. However, with the correct techniques, parents can still experience emotional bonding with their premature baby and share all of those health benefits with their little one.

The Benefits of Emotional Bonding

As emphasized above, there are numerous health benefits associated with kangaroo care. Some of the most influential benefits are:

• Lower risk of infections

• Improved breathing patterns and stronger

• Healthy sleep cycles

• Decreased stress for parent and baby

• Stabilized body temperature and blood oxygen levels

• Regulated heartbeat

By participating in skin-to-skin care soon after birth, mom and baby can immediately begin creating that emotional bond and begin experiencing the related health benefits (Cleveland Clinic, 2025).

Additional Preemie Benefits

Beyond just the standard health benefits for newborns, babies born prematurely can gain even more from this practice. Melissa Scala, a neonatologist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, states, “In the NICU, they're not next to anybody, and they hear the fan in the incubator; it's a very different environment. Skin-to-skin care is probably the closest we can get to mimicking the womb" (Digitale, 2024). With the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) being a potentially stressful place for both parents and preemies, participating in kangaroo care can help create a relaxed environment that feels familiar to the little one. Additionally, many preemies are unable to begin breastfeeding right away and are therefore unable to gain the bonding benefits that breastfeeding can provide. By participating in skin-to-skin care, preemies can still have access to those benefits in an alternative way (Digitale, 2024).

What Traditional Kangaroo Care Looks Like

Kangaroo care, while it has a plethora of benefits for your little one, is actually fairly easy to accomplish and typically begins immediately after birth. Skin-to-skin contact is exactly what it sounds like: Baby is placed belly-down on their parent’s bare chest, and a blanket is placed over Baby. While many research studies focus on skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her child, it can also be performed by other family members or caretakers (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). 

This practice can continue for a while after birth as well. After leaving the hospital, the practice remains the same, but there are a few more factors that should be taken into account. Parents should be sure that they are wearing comfortable clothing, are in good health, and have not been smoking to ensure safe skin-to-skin care. This should also be a time for just you and baby, so be sure there are no phones or other electrical devices in the area that may distract you from your baby. Above all, it is important to ensure that you are not feeling tired when you engage in kangaroo care with your little one. Falling asleep while engaging in skin-to-skin contact can lead to a dangerous situation and a greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Cleveland Clinic, 2025).

How to Make it Accessible for You and Your Preemie

While the above method is how kangaroo care is traditionally accomplished, depending on your baby’s specific needs, kangaroo care might look a little bit different for them. Many preemies need support from medical equipment, and you may need help from your baby’s care team navigating around that equipment to provide kangaroo care (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). While this can seem intimidating at first, remember that your baby’s care team wants you to have this time with your little one, and they are there to assist you in making it happen.

Final Remarks

 Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact, has been proven to give numerous health benefits to newborns and their parents. For babies born prematurely, these health benefits can be even more abundant. While kangaroo care can seem a bit more unreachable for parents of little ones born preterm, it is important to inquire about how to make it suitable for your baby’s individual needs. Be sure to discuss with your baby’s care team the ways that you can safely experience kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact, with your little one.

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2025, December 5). What is Kangaroo Care & How Can It Help Your Baby? Kangaroo Care. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/12578-kangaroo-care 

Digitale, E. (2024, August 6). Skin-to-skin “kangaroo care” found to boost neurodevelopment in preemies. Stanford Medicine News Center. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/08/kangaroo-preemies.html