Research from a Colombian study shows that premature babies who receive kangaroo care during infancy exhibit better brain development and enhanced social integration by age 20. What is the kangaroo method? It involves holding the baby upright against the parent's chest, secured with a fabric wrap around the waist—mimicking a kangaroo pouch—to share natural body warmth. Position the baby's head to the side, arms folded, and legs slightly apart for comfort. Both newborns and parents (mothers or fathers) maintain this skin-to-skin contact around the clock.
The kangaroo method offers proven benefits for premature infants. Skin-to-skin contact fulfills their critical needs: it stabilizes body temperature, regulates breathing, accelerates weight gain, reduces crying, and improves sleep, supporting healthy maturation. Parents also gain stronger emotional bonds with their baby. Widely adopted in Scandinavia, North America, and Africa, and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), it's underutilized in France. While highly effective, the challenge of 24/7 carrying for weeks means sharing duties with partners is key.
