Kangaroo Care

What is Kangaroo Care?

Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact between infants and their caregiver. There is much evidence of the benefits of kangaroo care (1), including evidence that Kangaroo Care can improve children’s recovery in the PICU.

How to do Kangaroo Care?

Kangaroo care can be achieved in the PICU with the assistance of nursing and clinical teams to help with positioning and arranging any tubing or cannulae. Your baby can be held on your chest, so that their skin is in contact with your skin. If kangaroo care cannot be achieved, physical contact such as “hand hugging” can be used instead. There is a video below on how to do Kangaroo Care.

Benefits of Kangaroo Care:

• Improved sleep

• Reduced stress levels

• Improved heart rate and breathing rate (vital signs)

• Improved weight gain

• Improved maternal milk supply

• Pain management

When should you do Kangaroo Care?

It is recommended to set aside at least an hour for Kangaroo Care, so find a time that works for you or another family member, where you can sit. Talk to your nurse/clinical team to find a time that is convenient. Remember to go to the bathroom before starting, and have some water and your phone nearby.