In plain words
Kangaroo mother care is a way of holding a baby , upright, against a parent's bare chest. The baby usually wears only a diaper and a hat, and a cloth or shirt goes over the back. The name comes from the way a kangaroo carries its young. It is used most often in the NICU for babies born early or small, and it can continue at home after discharge. Skin contact helps keep the baby warm and steady. Many parents say it helps them bond and helps with breastfeeding. Mothers, fathers, and can all do it. A baby who is very unwell may not be ready, and the care team decides when to start. It is different from ordinary skin-to-skin contact, which is also encouraged after a healthy birth.
The deeper version
Kangaroo mother care has two components: continuous skin-to-skin contact in an upright position, and exclusive or early breastfeeding, sometimes with a support garment. The WHO practical guide (2003) defined the method, and WHO recommendations in 2022 endorse immediate kangaroo care from birth for stable low-birth-weight infants when conditions allow. A Cochrane review by Conde-Agudelo and Diaz-Rossello (2016) found reduced mortality and improved breastfeeding and weight gain in trials of stable infants, with evidence of moderate quality. The controversy concerns the best timing of initiation, the required daily duration, and whether benefits extend to unstable or extremely preterm infants, where trials are fewer.
Where it comes up
- Skin-to-skin and the golden hourGetting Ready for Birth
- When your baby is in the NICUBirth and the First Days
- BabywearingBaby Basics
- When your milk comes inFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about kangaroo mother care
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Sources
- World Health Organization — Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC): Recommendations, 2022
- Conde-Agudelo A, Diaz-Rossello JL — Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016