Kangaroo Care for Hospitalized Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

Kangaroo care (KC), or skin-to-skin care, occurs when an infant is dressed in a diaper and held to a parent’s bare chest. This form of holding has been shown to have many benefits for hospitalized babies including enhanced physiologic stability, increased weight gain, decreased length of stay, and decreased risk of hospital-acquired infection. New research conducted by members of our Cardiac Center and Breastfeeding and Lactation Program, demonstrates that upon preliminary evidence, KC can be safely integrated into standard care for hospitalized infants with congenital heart disease. Read more here.