Skin-to-skin after birth

Skin-to-skin contact — sometimes called “kangaroo care” — simply means holding your naked baby against your bare chest, usually with a warm blanket over the both of you. It’s one of the loveliest and most useful things you can do in the early days, and it’s well worth knowing about (and asking for) in advance.

Why it’s so good. Placing your baby skin-to-skin does a surprising amount of work. Your body helps regulate their temperature, heart rate and breathing; it calms them (and you), releasing the hormones that support bonding and milk production; it helps steady their blood sugar; and it encourages early feeding — babies held skin-to-skin often nuzzle towards the breast and latch when they’re ready.

Right after birth. In an uncomplicated birth, your baby is usually placed straight onto your chest and stays there for that first golden hour, with the routine checks done while they’re with you where possible. It’s the ideal first “meeting”, and a beautiful way to start.

After a caesarean, or if it can’t happen straight away. Skin-to-skin is often still possible in theatre during a caesarean, or a little later once you’re settled — and if your baby needs some help first, you can have that first contact when you’re reunited. If you’re not up to it, your partner can do skin-to-skin too, which is just as valuable for the baby and a special bonding moment for them.

Keep it going. Skin-to-skin isn’t just for the birth — it’s a wonderful tool for the whole newborn period. It soothes an unsettled baby, supports breastfeeding, and is a lovely daily ritual for either parent. There’s no such thing as “too much” cuddling a newborn.

It helps with feeding. Held skin-to-skin, many newborns will instinctively nuzzle, shuffle towards the breast and self-attach — sometimes called the “breast crawl”. Even if you’re not breastfeeding, that closeness calms your baby and supports bonding and settling, so skin-to-skin is well worth it for bottle-feeding families too; it’s about connection and comfort, not just milk.

There’s also no time limit on it. As newborns, babies love being held against you, and skin-to-skin can become a lovely daily wind-down for weeks and months to come — for either parent. It settles a fractious baby, supports feeding, and is simply a beautiful way to be close, so build in as much of it as you like.

One safety note: enjoy skin-to-skin while you’re awake and aware, and if you feel you might doze off, hand your baby to someone else or settle them in their own safe sleep space first — cuddle time and safe sleep are separate things. Otherwise, get that shirt open and soak up those newborn snuggles; they’re good for both of you, and they go far too fast.