When your baby is healthy enough to do so, skin to skin contact (also called kangaroo care) can become a big step in your relationship with your child. It helps you form a special attachment.

Kangaroo care helps your child:

• Stay calm, so they can use their energy for growing
• Breath more evenly, with less pauses
• Stay in a deeper sleep for longer
• Prepare for breastfeeding or bottle feeding

Kangaroo care helps you too:

• You will be doing something for them that no one else can do
• If you are breastfeeding you may make more milk and breastfeed longer

There is no set time to start skin to skin contact. The people who know your baby best, including their nurses, doctors, and you, will plan this together.

It is important to start slowly. In the beginning, you may perform facilitated tucking while they are still in the incubator to let your baby learn a about your touch.

Both fathers and mothers can enjoy Kangaroo care. If you wish to try it, speak with your infant’s nurse. Please remember to wash your hands before coming in to prevent the spread of infection.

Reference: 

B.C. Children's Hospital. (1998). Skin to Skin Cuddling: The Magic Touch of Mom & Dad.