What is kangaroo care?

Kangaroo care is when you hold your baby to your bare chest. Your baby should be wearing just a nappy and, if needed, a hat. This allows your baby to have skin-to-skin contact with you, while losing minimal body heat.

You can hold your baby upright with their head to one side. One hand should support your baby’s head and the other is placed over their bottom. You can also hold them in a side-lying position.

Once you are holding your baby skin-to-skin, your clothes or a blanket are wrapped around your baby in a kangaroo-like pouch. This helps to keep them warm.

During kangaroo care, you can use a mirror to see your baby’s face.

Many maternity hospitals encourage skin-to-skin contact straight after birth if both you and your baby are well.

Kangaroo care can be given to babies who are full term, either in hospital or at home. It can also be used for babies who are premature or unwell and being cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care nursery (SCN).

Even babies who need breathing support and are on a ventilator receiving oxygen can have kangaroo care. Ideally, kangaroo care happens within the first few days of birth.

Maternity care providers generally recommend that parents practise kangaroo care as soon and as often as possible. However, babies of any age benefit from kangaroo care.

Kangaroo care has many benefits. It can:

• help keep your baby's heartbeat and breathing steady
• help your baby gain weight
• reduce your baby’s chance of getting an infection
• improve your baby’s oxygen levels
• help keep your baby’s body temperature steady
• support longer periods of quiet, calm sleep
• make it easier for your baby to breastfeed when they are ready
• support your baby’s brain development

Kangaroo care may help reduce pain when babies have medical procedures. It can also reduce stress for the parents and baby during these procedures.

Skin-to-skin contact during vaccinations can help babies feel calm and secure.

Kangaroo care offers many benefits for parents. It can help with:

• strengthening the bonding and emotional attachment with your baby
• building confidence in caring for your baby
• supporting early breastfeeding and breast milk production
• reducing stress and anxiety

It’s important that you are mindful and ‘present’ when you’re providing kangaroo care.

Here are some practical tips for getting ready for kangaroo care, either in hospital or at home:

• Wear a shirt that easily opens down the front, or wear a front-opening hospital gown. It helps to remove your bra or underclothes so that your baby has access to your breasts.
• Have pillows available for support, as well as a blanket to place over your baby.
• Avoid using any strong perfumes, body wash, moisturisers or powders. It’s important that your baby can smell you.
• Sit in a comfortable chair with armrests and a high, supportive back. Use a footrest if you want one.
• Go to the toilet beforehand, have a drink beside you and focus on your own comfort as well.
• Speak gently to your baby and tell them what’s happening. You can also hum or sing to your baby so that they can hear your voice.
• Be sensitive to your baby’s cues or signals — this will help you understand their feelings.

Miracle Babies Foundation (Opens in new tab) supports premature and sick newborns and their families — call the NurtureLine helpline on 1300 622 243 for family support.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (Opens in new tab) has information on breastfeeding and baby care — call the Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268 (1800 mum 2 mum).

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Read more breastfeeding resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples (Opens in new tab).

Breastmilk Talk ‘Ngaminjang Djama (Opens in new tab)’ — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums having a yarn about the benefits of breastfeeding for mum and bub.

SMS4 Deadly Dads — Helps First Nations Dads (Opens in new tab) connect with their bub, support mum and look after themselves.