Kangaroo care: research results, and practice implications and guidelines

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Developmental pediatrics
• Infant physiology

Background:

• Premature infants often experience physiological instability.
• Kangaroo care (KC) is a method of skin-to-skin contact.
• Limited research exists on KC's effects in different infant care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects of 2-3 hours of kangaroo care (KC) on premature infants.
• To compare KC in open-air cribs versus incubators.
• To provide guidelines for KC implementation.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were reviewed: a randomized trial (n=25) and a pilot study (n=6).
• Both studies used a pretest/posttest control group design.
• Infants were premature, with one group in open-air cribs and the other in incubators postextubation.

Main Results:

• KC increased heart rate and abdominal skin temperature in infants.
• Infants experienced increased sleep duration and reduced heat loss during KC.
• Apnea and periodic breathing episodes decreased during KC for incubator infants.
• KC had a comforting effect on both infants and mothers.

Conclusions:

• Kangaroo care positively impacts premature infant physiological stability and sleep.
• KC demonstrates benefits across different care environments (cribs and incubators).
• Findings support the use of KC as a comforting and stabilizing intervention for premature infants.