What is kangaroo care?
Kangaroo care is a way of holding a premature baby so that there is skin-to-skin contact.  The baby, wearing only a nappy, is held upright against the parent’s bare chest.  The name kangaroo care is used because the method is similar to how a baby kangaroo is carried by its mother.

Where did it start?
Kangaroo care began in South America, where premature babies were sent home snuggled between their mothers’ breasts, being fed only breastmilk.  The method spread to countries in Europe and then to the United States, where an estimated 200 neonatal intensive-care units practice kangaroo care, up from about 70 in the early 1990s.

Why is it used?
Kangaroo care is often used with premature babies because the close contact with the parent can stabilise the baby’s heartbeat, temperature and breathing.  Premature babies have a hard time coordinating their breathing and heart rates (often called coupling).  As the baby’s heart rate increases, there could be an increase of apnea, which is a temporary loss of breathing.  Studies have shown and many medical professionals agree that kangaroo care can help the baby better coordinate its breathing and heart rate.

Kangaroo care and breastfeeding
Mothers who use kangaroo care can have more success with breastfeeding and improve their milk supply.  Premature babies (particularly those less than 34 weeks gestational age) often suck better at the breast than the bottle, because premature babies are usually not able to control the flow of milk from a bottle.