What is kangaroo care for babies?
Kangaroo care, also known as skin-to-skin contact, is the direct skin-to-skin contact between a parent (mother/father/caregiver) and a baby. This means the baby lies unclothed on the parent’s chest, covered only by a blanket, cloth, or kangaroo care top.
What are the benefits of kangaroo care for babies and parents?
Benefits for the baby
- Promotes stable heart rate and breathing: Skin-to-skin contact helps the baby breathe better and maintain a regular heart rate.
- Improves temperature regulation: The parent's body temperature helps the baby stay warm, which is especially important for premature babies.
- Aids in weight gain: Kangaroo care stimulates appetite and improves digestion, contributing to better growth.
- Increases feeling of security and reduces stress: The proximity of the parent gives the baby a sense of safety and reduces stress hormones.
Benefits for the parent
- Strengthens the bond between parent and child: Skin-to-skin contact promotes the emotional bond, which is essential for the baby's development.
- Can stimulate milk production in the mother: Contact can promote the release of oxytocin (also known as the cuddle hormone), which aids in milk production.
- Reduces stress and promotes a sense of well-being: Parents who practice kangaroo care often feel more relaxed and connected to their baby. The risk of postpartum depression in the mother is reduced.
What is the history of kangaroo care?
To offer a safe and affordable alternative to expensive incubators in developing countries, the Kangaroo Mother Care program was developed in Colombia in 1978 by Dr. Rey and Dr. Martinez. This method uses the mother's warmth instead of an incubator's warmth. The baby is carried skin-to-skin 24 hours a day, just as kangaroos carry their young in their pouches.
The results were remarkable. Mortality rates among premature babies dropped drastically, and the babies grew faster and were less susceptible to infections. Due to this success, the method quickly spread to other countries in Latin America and the rest of the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the benefits of kangaroo care and began promoting it in the 1990s as an effective method for caring for premature and low-birth-weight babies in developing countries.
What are the benefits of kangaroo care for full-term babies?
Research has shown that kangaroo care is effective for all newborns, regardless of birth location, birth weight, gestational age, and clinical conditions.
Although kangaroo care is often associated with premature babies, it also has great benefits for full-term babies in home care.
Health benefits
- Improves temperature regulation: Even for full-term babies, skin-to-skin contact helps them stabilize their body temperature.
- Stimulates breastfeeding: Kangaroo care can facilitate breastfeeding by stimulating the baby's natural instinct to suck, increasing milk production in the mother.
- Strengthens the immune system: Skin-to-skin contact can strengthen the baby's immune system, making them more resistant to infections.
Emotional and psychological benefits
- Strengthens the parent-child bond: Skin-to-skin contact promotes the emotional bond between parent and child, which is essential for the baby's emotional development. This is why it is also valuable for fathers to practice kangaroo care with their babies.
- Reduces stress and crying time: Kangaroo care helps the baby feel calm and secure, which can result in less crying and more rest.
- Promotes better sleep: Babies who regularly receive kangaroo care often have better sleep quality.
How does kangaroo care work?
- Ensure a quiet, warm environment. At home, this can be the bedroom or a comfortable chair in the living room.
- Undress the baby, except for the diaper. The baby can wear a hat if desired. Undress your own upper body.
- Use a kangaroo care top: For extra convenience and support, you can use a kangaroo care top. The top makes it easier to keep the baby close to you while keeping your hands free.
Position and Technique
- Place the baby upright against your chest with their head close to your heart. Ensure the baby's head is clear with the nose pointing up in the "sniffing" position, so the baby can breathe well.
- Use a soft blanket or place the baby in the kangaroo care top to cover for extra warmth and comfort.
How long and how often should you practice kangaroo care?
Start kangaroo care as early as possible, preferably immediately after birth. Try to practice it daily, ideally for at least an hour or a complete feeding and sleeping cycle per session; more often and longer is always good!
What is a kangaroo care top and how does it work?
The kangaroo care top from Natural Cosy Kids is a type of cowl worn around the torso that facilitates kangaroo care. The tops are handmade from soft, stretchy, exclusive fabrics and ensure the baby lies securely, like in a cocoon.
Benefits
The kangaroo care top offers support and comfort for both parent and baby. It ensures the baby stays in place while the parent has their hands free. Additionally, the parent doesn't feel exposed or cold because the torso, including the back, is covered. This also makes it more comfortable to receive visitors during kangaroo care.
Usage
- Place the baby on your chest and pull the Kangaroo Care Top up over your back and the baby up to below their ears. The kangaroo care top keeps the baby warm and close to your heart.
- The kangaroo care top is intended for a seated to semi-reclined position and not meant for walking. It does not provide sufficient support to be used as a baby wrap.
Conclusion: Why is kangaroo care important, even at home for full-term babies?
Kangaroo care is a simple and effective way to improve the health and well-being of both the baby and the parent. Not only for premature babies but also for full-term babies.
It offers many benefits, from a better heart rate and breathing in the baby to a stronger emotional bond between parent and child.
I hope that after reading this blog, you are inspired to try kangaroo care. It can have a great impact on the health and well-being of you and your baby.
Do you want to practice kangaroo care comfortably? Then take a look at the kangaroo care tops. The tops are available in various fabric types, colors, and prints.