Kangaroo Care: The Not So New Bonding Technique for Fathers

Kangaroo Care is a type of skin-to-skin contact method that is implemented to help babies thrive and bond better with mothers in the first moments after birth. This method is used for several days and for hours at a time to give the baby a chance to feel warmth and love from their mothers. Recently, more dads have begun to use this same method to also increase their bonds with their babies early on.

What is Kangaroo Care?

Kangaroo care is a skin-to-skin contact method that most hospitals around the world use to give mothers that immediate bond with their newborns. A baby has just spent 9 months inside their mother’s womb and leaving that comfort zone can be a lot for them. By allowing them to be near their mother’s heart, they are better eased into the transition. This method is not just for bonding, but also assists with lactation and breastfeeding early on.

Discovered in Bogota, Colombia, in the 1970s, this method was a response to the loss of many pre-term babies. Respiratory issues, lack of attention, and infections led to an all-time high loss rate of 70%. Contact with the mother was found by researchers to have almost immediate health results in newborns. Utilizing the method throughout their hospitals, Colombia thankfully noticed a massive drop in their pre-term loss rate. It was not long before the United States and many other countries began to also implement this method and later expanded the recommendation to be used for all babies, not just pre-term or high-risk.

Benefits of Kangaroo Care?

The benefits of kangaroo care to your baby include:

• Assisting in stabilizing heart rates.
• Improving your baby’s breathing, balancing the pattern and regularity.
• Improving oxygen levels (how well oxygen is being supplied to your newborn’s organs and tissues; scored out of 100).
• Improving the quality of sleep.
• Bonding can increase breastfeeding success (if you choose to do so).

The benefits of kangaroo care for parents can include:

• Improving the overall bond with your newborn in the first few days and weeks.
• Increasing your breast milk supply (if you choose to breastfeed).
• Increasing your confidence as a new parent.

The benefits above are typically for newborns and mothers only, but due to an increase in fathers around the globe wanting to be an integral part of their children’s lives, they too can benefit from this method. Fathers that can utilize this method early on will not only create a much stronger bond with their newborn but also massively increase their father’s instincts and confidence as a new dad. Due to the typical structure at most hospitals, priority is given to the mothers, but more and more countries are starting to recognize the importance of father bonding as well. Asking for some “dad time” is always a great way to let the hospital staff know that you would like to be a part.

When newborns are allowed to interact using the Kangaroo Care Method, not only do vital signs begin to balance but neural pathways as well. This can lead to an increase in brain development and benefit your child early on. Children are also calmer, on average, which can lead to better sleep times and patterns. These benefits far exceed just the mother’s capabilities. Allowing dads to take part gives newborns multiple interactions which in turn promotes all of the above-stated points. See our sources below for research data and more information.

How Can New Dads Be Confident With Kangaroo Care?

Taking part in something so intimate with your child can feel awkward and you may not be up for it at first. This is completely fine. Easing into it can be good for both you and your child and it is best not to rush the process.

Starting this in the hospital is recommended or as early as you can start. We had our daughter while overseas and due to COVID-19 restrictions I was not allowed much visiting time with her or my wife. If you are in a situation similar to this do not feel bad or put unwarranted pressure on yourself. Starting once they are home is completely fine too. Remember, this experience is about bonding with your child and making your child feel comfortable, safe, and cared for. The time and place that works best for you is nothing to compare to. All experiences will be different.

If you can be with your newborn after birth and if you feel up to trying the Kangaroo Care Method out, asking the nursing staff is the best way to start. A lot of their focus is going to be on the baby and mother. A simple question or conversation with them about possible times and places that you may e able to have some “dad time” will help them better assist you and your family. While mom is resting or eating is always a great time to help out and a perfect time for you to begin bonding with your child.

Not all dads will have the same experiences after birth. For me, I felt an instant connection with my daughter, but many of my friends and coworkers tell me all the time how it was not like that for them at all. It took some a few weeks before feeling that “I am a father now” moment. Some a few days. Some are quite a bit longer. Read our article on father-baby bonding here for more information. We also have an article on being confident when holding your baby. If you would like to read that you can do so, here.

Our Take

I have said it in a few posts before and will continue to say it until someone says they are sick of it: Do not compare your experiences as a father or the lives of your children with others. Comparison is a huge thief of joy and achievement and 9 times out of 10 can make things worse. What you see on social media is usually only the good parts of a family’s experiences, because they too want to hide all of the negative. It is easy for us to compare our perceived failures with other people’s highlight reels. Please keep that in mind.

I truly believe that the Kangaroo Care Method is amazing and something that I still practice even with my daughter being 6 months old. That bonding time is great for me and something I cherish. However, it is not for every dad. I hope you learned a little bit about a new topic and found a new way to try and spend quality time with your little one. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments below.