25+ Medical Reasons to Do Kangaroo Care, Skin to Skin Therapy, and Use Baby Carriers

The Medical Research

Medical studies find that Kangaroo Care (KC) and Skin to Skin (S2S) Therapy:  

- improve heart rate

- improve respiratory rate

- improve oxygen saturation

- improve temperature regulation

- lower infections

- prevent apnea

- improve sleep

- lower crying (especially when done by fathers)

- provide analgesic (pain relief) effect

- increase milk production

- increase the ability to breastfeed exclusively

- allow for earlier breastfeeding initiation

- increase general neurobehavioral development

- increase mental and motor scores

- increase brain maturation

- lower caregiver’s anxiety (especially the postpartum mother)

- increase the caregiver’s parental/relational satisfaction

- create better caregiver/baby attachments  

Medical studies suggest KC/S2S to:

- prevent oxygen desaturations

- lower apnea episodes

- regulate cortisol (the stress hormone) especially with fathers

- create a more positive interaction between caregiver and infant.  

Medical studies warrant consideration of KC/S2S to improve weight gain

Medical research shows that

- using a baby carrier for three hours a day reduced infant crying by 43 percent overall and 54 percent during evening hours.  

- the physical drain from carrying in-arms is 16% greater than using a tool (i.e. a baby carrier) to support the baby’s mass, which is potentially an even larger burden than breastfeeding.  

- holding our babies close in a baby carrier allows us to form a mutual attachment, and is especially beneficial for mothers who are at risk for or suffering from postpartum depression.  

A woven wrap allows for

discrete kangaroo care -

bare chest to bare chest

For more information, email rachelgaston@hotmail.com

To purchase a kangaroo care garment or baby carrier, email me or see some options here