You’ve probably heard about the benefits of breastfeeding – but what about good ol’-fashioned skin-to-skin contact?
Whether you breastfeed, bottle-feed or do a bit of both, this simple practice can have massive benefits for both bub and you. And yes – dads, partners and other caregivers can (and should) do it too.
What Is It?
Skin-to-skin means placing your baby directly on your bare chest with no clothing in between. Simple as that. It can happen right after birth or during the days and weeks that follow.
The Benefits:
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Regulates baby’s temperature, heartbeat and breathing
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Reduces stress hormones (in both baby and parent!)
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Boosts milk production and helps with breastfeeding
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Supports bonding and helps baby feel safe and calm
It can even help reduce crying and support bub’s brain development. Like a warm cuddle with superpowers.
Real Talk:
It’s not just for the early days in hospital. Try it at home after a bath, before a nap, or when baby’s unsettled. Snuggle up skin-to-skin with a blanket over the top, and you’ve got one of the easiest parenting wins ever.
And remember: skin-to-skin is for everyone. It’s bonding, calming, and oh-so-good for everyone involved.
Sources:
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Moore, E.R., Bergman, N., Anderson, G.C., & Medley, N. (2016). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
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WHO. Implementation guidance: protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services (2018).
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Bystrova, K. et al. (2003). Skin-to-skin contact may reduce negative consequences of “the stress of being born”: A study on temperature in newborn infants, subjected to different ward routines in St. Petersburg. Acta Paediatrica.
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Feldman, R., Weller, A., Zagoory-Sharon, O., & Levine, A. (2007). Evidence for a neuroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: Plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period. Hormones and Behavior.