Pediatr. praxi. 2025;26(6):411-415 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2025.079

The importance of maternal care through kangaroo care for premature babies

Mgr. Lucia Mazúchová, PhD.1, Mgr. Anna ©renkelová1, Bc. Katarína Pálffy1, Mgr. Katarína Chromčíková, PhD.2
1 Ústav pôrodnej asistencie, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave
2 Neonatologická klinika, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta UK a Univerzitná nemocnica Martin

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a key strategy in the care of preterm infants. KMC has significant health benefits for the newborn and the mother. It has a positive impact on the mother-infant bond, which is important for the healthy development of the infant, and on breastfeeding, which is essential for nutrition and the immune system, as well as for physiological and psychological benefits and long-term cognitive and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. For mothers, KMC provides impor­tant psychological support, reduces the risk of postnatal depression and strengthens their competence in caring for their baby. KMC should be promoted as a standardised part of routine practice in the care of preterm infants, and support from health professionals is essential.

Keywords: kangaroo mother care, preterm infants, mothers, attachment, breastfeeding, health professionals.

Accepted: December 10, 2025; Published: December 15, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Mazúchová L, ©renkelová A, Pálffy K, Chromčíková K. The importance of maternal care through kangaroo care for premature babies. Pediatr. praxi. 2025;26(6):411-415. doi: 10.36290/ped.2025.079.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Purchase PDF - 60 CZK (2.5 EUR)
    will be unlocked 15.12.2026

    References

    1. Calibo AP, De Leon Mendoza S, Silvestre MA, et al. Scaling up kangaroo mother care in the Philippines using policy, regulatory and systems reform to drive changes in birth practices. BMJ Global Health. 2021;6(8):e006492. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    2. WHO Immediate KMC Study Group. Immediate "kangaroo mother care" and survival of infants with low birth weight. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;384(21): 2028-2038. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Lydon MM, Lwesha V, Likomwa D, et al. Re-envisioning Kangaroo Mother Care Implementation Through a Socioecological Model: Lessons From Malawi. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2022;10(4):e2100727. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Sivanandan S, Sankar MJ. Kangaroo mother care for preterm or low birth weight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Glob Health. 2023;8(6):e010728. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. Dong Q, Steen M, Wepa D, et al. Exploratory study of fathers providing kangaroo care in a neonatal intensive care unit. J Clin Nurs. 2022;00:1-12. Go to original source...
    6. Mohammadi M, Bergh AM, Heidarzadeh M, et al. Implementation and effectiveness of continuous kangaroo mother care: a participatory action research protocol. Int Breastfeed J. 2021;16(1):24. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Zengin H, Suzan OK, Hur G, et al. The effects of kangaroo mother care on physiological parameters of premature neonates in neonatal intensive care unit: A systematic review. J Pediatr Nurs. 2023;71:18-27. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. Mekonnen AG, Yehualashet SS, Bayleyegn AD. The effects of kangaroo mother care on the time to breastfeeding initiation among preterm and LBW infants: a meta-analysis of published studies. Int Breastfeed J. 2019;14:12. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Mazúchová L, Baránková K, Buchanec J. Materská starostlivos» klokankovaním o predčasne narodené deti y pohµadu matiek. Pediatria (Bratisl.). 2024;19(1):11-14.
    10. Akbari E, Binnoon-Erez N, Rodrigues M, et al. Kangaroo mother care and infant biopsychosocial outcomes in the first year: A meta-analysis. Early Hum Dev. 2018;122:22-31. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Namnabati M, Talakoub S, Mohammadizadeh M, et al. The implementation of kangaroo mother care and nurses' perspective of barriers in Iranian' NICUs. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2016;21(1):84-88. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Evereklian M, Posmontier B. The impact of kangaroo care on premature infant weight gain. J Pediatr Nurs. 2017;34: e10-16. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Olawuyi O, Ezenwa BN, Fajolu IB, et al. Knowledge, attitude and practice of kangaroo mother care among mothers in the neonatal wards of a tertiary care center. Pan Afr Med J. 2021;38(364):1-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. Koç S, Kaya N. Effect of kangaroo care at birth on physiological parameters of healthy newborns. Hemţirelikte Araţtýrma Geliţtirme Dergisi. 2017;19(1)1-13.
    15. Campbell-Yeo ML, Disher TC, Benoit BL, et al. Understanding kangaroo care and its benefits to preterm infants. Pediatric Health Med Ther. 2015;18(6):15-32. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Nimbalkar SM, Chaudhary NS, Gadhavi KV, et al. Kangaroo Mother Care in reducing pain in preterm neonates on heel prick. Indian J Pediatr. 2013;80(1):6-10. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Takahashi Y, Tamakoshi K, Matsushima M, et al. Comparison of salivary cortisol, heart rate, and oxygen saturation between early skin-to-skin contact with different initiation and duration times in healthy, full-term infants. Early Hum Dev. 2011;87(3):151-157. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Montealegre-Pomar A, Bohorquez A, Charpak N. Systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that kangaroo position protects against apnoea of prematurity. Acta Paediatr. 2020;109:1310-1316. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Schets MW, Chen W, SBO. Design of a breathing mattress based on the respiratory movement of kangaroo mother care for the development of neonates. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2015;6764-6767. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. Pandita A, Panghal A, Gupta G, et al. Is kangaroo mother care effective in alleviating vaccination associated pain in early infantile period? A RCT. Early Hum Dev. 2018;127:69-73. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Pillai Riddell RR, Bucsea O, Shiff I, et al. Non-pharmacological management of infant and young child procedural pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;6(6):CD006275. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Narciso LM, Beleza LO, Imoto AM. The effectiveness of Kangaroo Mother Care in hospitalization period of preterm and low birth weight infants: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2022;98(2):117-125. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Mehrpisheh S, Doorandish Z, Farhadi R, et al. The Effectiveness of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on attachment of mothers with premature infants. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2022;15:100149. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Boundy EO, Dastjerdi R, Spiegelman D, et al. Kangaroo mother care and neonatal outcomes: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2016;137:e20152238. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    25. Conde-Agudelo A, Díaz-Rossello JL. Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016:CD002771. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    26. Garg BD, Bansal A, Kabra NS. Role of kangaroo mother care in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in both term and preterm neonates: a systematic review. J Perinat Educ. 2020;29(3):123-133. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Feldman R. Sensitive periods in human social development: New insights from research on oxytocin, synchrony, and high-risk parenting. Dev Psychopathol. 2015;27(2):369-395. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    28. Almgren M. Benefits of skin-to-skin contact during the neonatal period: Governed by epigenetic mechanisms? Genes Dis. 2018;5(1):24-26. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Korraa AA, El Nagger AA, Mohamed RA, et al. Impact of kangaroo mother care on cerebral blood flow of preterm infants. Ital J Pediatr. 2014;40:83. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Charpak N, Tessier R, Ruiz JG, et al. Twenty-year Follow-up of Kangaroo Mother Care Versus Traditional Care. Pediatrics. 2017;139(1):e20162063. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. Trumello C, Candelori C, Cofini M, et al. Mothers' Depression, Anxiety, and Mental Representations After Preterm Birth: A Study During the Infant's Hospitalization in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Front Public Health. 2018;6:359. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    32. Mu PF, Lee MY, Chen YC, et al. Experiences of parents providing kangaroo care to a premature infant: A qualitative systematic review. Nurs Health Sci. 2020;22(2):149-161. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    33. Zhu Z, Wang X, Chen W, et al. The efficacy of Kangaroo-Mother care to the clinical outcomes of LBW and premature infants in the first 28 days: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1067183. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    34. Badr HA, Zauszniewski JA. Kangaroo care and postpartum depression: The role of oxytocin. Int J Nurs Sci. 2017;4(2):179-183. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    35. Pathak BG, Sinha B, Sharma N, et al. Effects of kangaroo mother care on maternal and paternal health: systematic review and meta-analysis. Bull World Health Organ. 2023;101(6):391-402. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    36. Witteveen AB, Stramrood CAI, Henrichs J, et al. The oxytocinergic system in PTSD following traumatic childbirth: endogenous and exogenous oxytocin in the peripartum period. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2020;23(3):317-329. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    37. Scime NV, Gavarkovs AG, Chaput KH. The effect of skin-to-skin care on postpartum depression among mothers of preterm or low birthweight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2019;253:376-384. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    38. Kurt FY, Kucukoglu S, Ozdemir AA, et al. The effect of kangaroo care on maternal attachment in preterm infants. Niger J Clin Pract. 2020;23(1):26-32. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    39. Badiee Z, Faramarzi S, MiriZadeh T. The effect of kangaroo mother care on mental health of mothers with low birth weight infants. Adv Biomed Res. 2014;3:214. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    40. Rollč L, Prino LE, Sechi C, et al. Parenting Stress, Mental Health, Dyadic Adjustment: A Structural Equation Model. Front Psychol. 2017;8:839. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    41. Cooijmans KHM, Beijers R, Rovers AC, et al. Effectiveness of skin-to-skin contact versus care-as-usual in mothers and their full-term infants: study protocol for a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2017;17(1):154. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    42. Arzani A, Valizadeh L, Zamanzadeh V, et al. Mothers' strategies in handling the prematurely born infant: a qualitative study. J Caring Sci. 2015;4(1):13-24. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    43. Samra HA, Dutcher J, McGrath JM, et al. Effect of skin-to-skin holding on stress in mothers of late-preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. Adv Neonatal Care. 2015;15(5):354-364. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    44. Chavan A, Paul N, Manerkaret S, et al. Impact of kangaroo father care in stable very low birth weight infants on father-infant bonding. J Neonatal Nurs. 2024;30(3):293-296. Go to original source...
    45. He J, Yimyam S, Namprom N. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, social support, and breastfeeding among Chinese mothers with late preterm infants. J Neonatal Nurs. 2022;28(1):21-25. Go to original source...
    46. Bhatia J. Human milk and the premature infant. Ann Nutr Metab. 2013;62(3):8-14. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    47. Litavec M, Chovancová D, Rajkovičová H. ©tandardný postup pre výkon prevencie: Starostlivos» o matku a novorodenca podµa zásad Baby - fiendly hospital Initiative (BFHI) - podpory vz»ahovej väzby a laktácie. [online]. 2019 [cit. 2025-04-10]. Available from: https://www.standardnepostupy.sk/standardy-bfhi/.
    48. Palmér L, Ericson J. A qualitative study on the breastfeeding experience of mothers of preterm infants in the first 12 months after birth. Int Breastfeed J. 2019;14(35):1-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    49. Dosani A, Hemraj J, Premji SS, et al. Breastfeeding the late preterm infant: experiences of mothers and perceptions of public health nurses. Int Breastfeed J. 2017;12:23. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    50. Ikonen R, Paavilainen E, Kaunonen M. Preterm Infants' Mothers' Experiences With Milk Expression and Breastfeeding: An Integrative Review. Adv Neonatal Care. 2015;15(6):394-406. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    51. Chan GJ, Valsangkar B, Kajeepeta S, et al. What is kangaroo mother care? Systematic review of the literature. J Glob Health. 2016;6(1):010701. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    52. Bilal SM, Tadele H, Abebo TA, et al. Barriers for kangaroo mother care (KMC) acceptance, and practices in southern Ethiopia: a model for scaling up uptake and adherence using qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21(1):25. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    53. Lilo EA, Shaw RJ, Corcoran J, et al. Does she think she's supported? Maternal perceptions of their experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit. Patient Exp J. 2016;3(1):15-24. Go to original source...
    54. The Royal Children's Hospital. Nursing Guidelines. Skin to skin care for the newborn. [online]. 2023 [cit. 2025-08-18]. Dostupné z: https://www.rch.org.au/rchcpg/hospital_clinical_guideline_index/Skin_to_skin_care_for_the_newborn/ 2023.
    55. Clinical Practice Guideline. Kangaroo Care. [online]. 2025 [cit. 2025-08-18]. Available from: https://www.bhs.org.au/bhsapps/govdoc/gdhtml/cpg0217.html.

    Return to the content


    Pediatrics for Practice

    Madam, Sir,
    please be aware that the website on which you intend to enter, not the general public because it contains technical information about medicines, including advertisements relating to medicinal products. This information and communication professionals are solely under §2 of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. Is active persons authorized to prescribe or supply (hereinafter expert).
    Take note that if you are not an expert, you run the risk of danger to their health or the health of other persons, if you the obtained information improperly understood or interpreted, and especially advertising which may be part of this site, or whether you used it for self-diagnosis or medical treatment, whether in relation to each other in person or in relation to others.

    I declare:

    1. that I have met the above instruction
    2. I'm an expert within the meaning of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. the regulation of advertising, as amended, and I am aware of the risks that would be a person other than the expert input to these sites exhibited

    No
    Yes

    If your statement is not true, please be aware
    that brings the risk of danger to their health or the health of others.