Skin-to-skin care with your baby

Skin-to-skin care means holding your baby close against your skin on your chest. It is good for both you and your baby. It helps stabilise and regulate your baby's heartbeat, breathing and oxygen levels and also helps them to settle and sleep for longer periods. For parents, it aids emotional attachment and bonding with their baby.

It is sometimes called kangaroo care.This information is intended for parents and carers of premature babies though much of the information is also relevant to newborn babies.