When my daughter was born, she arrived much earlier than expected and was quite ill. It was no surprise that she spent nearly a month in an incubator—a sterile environment filled with advanced technology to regulate her surroundings and monitor her health. What was unexpected, however, was that for a few hours each day, she was taken out of this high-tech cocoon and placed on the bare chest of someone without medical expertise. Hi, I’m David from MinuteEarth, and that non-expert was me, at least some of the time.
Doctors call this practice “kangaroo care” because the skin-to-skin contact mimics the snug environment of a kangaroo’s pouch. Initially, I was worried it might be risky to remove my baby from the sterile incubator and its monitoring devices. However, being a science enthusiast, I delved into research and found that kangaroo care is not only safe but also one of the most effective methods for supporting premature babies.
There are several key reasons why kangaroo care is beneficial. First, it is an excellent way to keep a baby warm. Premature babies have less body fat and a larger surface area relative to their size, making it difficult for them to maintain their body temperature. Skin is much better at conducting heat than air, and preemies who receive skin-to-skin care are 67% less likely to suffer from hypothermia compared to those who do not.
Second, during kangaroo care, beneficial bacteria from the parent’s skin are transferred to the baby. While this might sound alarming, exposure to the right amount of bacteria is crucial for developing a baby’s immune system. Full-term babies get this exposure in the womb during the last months of pregnancy, but preemies miss out. By providing this exposure through kangaroo care, the risk of severe infections like sepsis can be reduced by half.
Moreover, there are additional benefits from being cuddled with another person rather than being isolated in an incubator. Although the exact mechanism is not fully understood—perhaps it’s the sound of a heartbeat, a comforting scent, or the softness of skin compared to hard plastic—babies who receive kangaroo care tend to have lower heart rates, breathe more steadily, and sleep better.
Kangaroo care also benefits the parents, which in turn helps the babies. Parents who engage in kangaroo care are more likely to breastfeed, which offers numerous health advantages for the baby. They also report feeling more bonded with their child, are more attuned to their baby’s needs, and feel more confident in caring for their baby once they return home.
Of course, kangaroo care is not the only intervention available for premature babies. Doctors also use CPAP machines to support lung function, steroid injections to aid organ development, and IV lines to provide necessary nutrients. However, even with these advanced interventions, premature babies who receive kangaroo care have a 30% higher survival rate compared to those who do not. For those without access to high-tech interventions, kangaroo care can significantly improve survival odds.
My daughter is one of those fortunate survivors. My son, on the other hand, was born full-term and didn’t require the same intensive kangaroo care. Our gratitude for this intervention inspired us to name him Joey.
I’m passionate about life-saving practices like kangaroo care, which is why I’m excited to share that this video is sponsored by GiveWell, an organization dedicated to identifying the most effective ways to save lives globally. GiveWell has spent over 15 years researching charitable organizations and directs funding to a select few high-impact organizations, such as Helen Keller International, which provides supplements to prevent vitamin A deficiency, and the Against Malaria Foundation, which distributes mosquito nets to combat malaria. Recently, they have also supported a research institute focused on training hospital staff to counsel parents of premature babies on kangaroo care.
You can donate to a fund directed to GiveWell’s top choices on their website, where 100% of your donations go directly to the charities. Additionally, if you’re a first-time donor, GiveWell will match your donation dollar for dollar up to $100. Visit GiveWell.org/MinuteEarth to donate, and to ensure your donation gets matched, please select YouTube and then “MinuteEarth” when asked how you heard about GiveWell. Again, that’s GiveWell.org/MinuteEarth.
Research the physiological and psychological benefits of kangaroo care for both infants and parents. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting the scientific evidence supporting this practice.
Analyze a case study of a premature infant who received kangaroo care. Discuss the outcomes and compare them with infants who did not receive this intervention. Reflect on the implications for healthcare practices.
Engage in a role-playing exercise where you simulate a conversation between a healthcare provider and new parents. Practice explaining the benefits and procedures of kangaroo care, addressing any concerns the parents might have.
Participate in a debate on the effectiveness of kangaroo care versus high-tech medical interventions for premature infants. Consider the pros and cons of each approach and discuss how they can complement each other.
Evaluate different charitable organizations that support neonatal care. Assess their impact and effectiveness, and present your findings. Consider how donations can be directed to support life-saving practices like kangaroo care.
When my daughter was born, she was really premature and, as a result, quite sick. It wasn’t surprising that she spent nearly a month inside an incubator—a sterile environment equipped with high-tech devices to control her surroundings and monitor her condition. What was surprising, however, was that for a few hours each day, she was taken out of that incubator, free from tubes and monitors, and placed on the bare chest of a non-expert person. Hi, I’m David, this is MinuteEarth, and that non-expert was me at least some of the time.
Doctors refer to this practice as “kangaroo care,” as the skin-to-skin contact resembles the cozy environment of a kangaroo’s pouch. Initially, I was concerned it might be risky since it removed my baby from the sterile incubator and its monitoring devices. However, being a data-driven science enthusiast, I researched the topic and discovered that kangaroo care is not only safe but one of the best practices for helping premature babies.
There are a couple of major reasons for this. First, kangaroo care is an excellent way to keep a baby warm. Premature babies have less fat and a larger relative surface area compared to full-term babies, making it challenging for them to maintain their body temperature. Skin is much better at conducting heat than air, and preemies receiving skin-to-skin care are 67% less likely to experience hypothermia than those who do not.
Second, during kangaroo care, beneficial bacteria from the parent’s skin transfer to the baby. While this may sound concerning, exposure to the right amount of bacteria is essential for a baby’s immune system development. Full-term babies receive this exposure in their mother’s womb during the final months of pregnancy, but preemies miss out. By providing this exposure through kangaroo care, the risk of developing severe infections like sepsis can be reduced by half.
Additionally, there seems to be extra benefits from being cuddled with another person rather than being alone in an incubator. While the exact mechanism is unclear—perhaps it’s the sound of a heartbeat, a comforting scent, or the softness of skin compared to hard plastic—babies who receive kangaroo care tend to have lower heart rates, breathe more steadily, and sleep better.
Kangaroo care also benefits the parents, which in turn helps the babies. Parents who engage in kangaroo care are more likely to breastfeed, which has numerous health advantages for the baby. They also report feeling more bonded with their child, are more attuned to their baby’s needs, and feel more confident in caring for their baby once they return home.
Of course, kangaroo care is not the only intervention available for premature babies; doctors also use CPAP machines to support lung function, steroid injections to aid organ development, and IV lines for necessary nutrients. However, even with these advanced interventions, premature babies who receive kangaroo care have a 30% higher survival rate compared to those who do not. For those without access to high-tech interventions, kangaroo care can significantly improve survival odds.
My daughter is one of those fortunate survivors. My son, on the other hand, was born full-term and didn’t require the same intensive kangaroo care. Our gratitude for this intervention inspired us to name him Joey.
I’m passionate about life-saving practices like kangaroo care, which is why I’m excited to share that this video is sponsored by GiveWell, an organization dedicated to identifying the most effective ways to save lives globally. GiveWell has spent over 15 years researching charitable organizations and directs funding to a select few high-impact organizations, such as Helen Keller International, which provides supplements to prevent vitamin A deficiency, and the Against Malaria Foundation, which distributes mosquito nets to combat malaria. Recently, they have also supported a research institute focused on training hospital staff to counsel parents of premature babies on kangaroo care.
You can donate to a fund directed to GiveWell’s top choices on their website, where 100% of your donations go directly to the charities. Additionally, if you’re a first-time donor, GiveWell will match your donation dollar for dollar up to $100. Visit GiveWell.org/MinuteEarth to donate, and to ensure your donation gets matched, please select YouTube and then “MinuteEarth” when asked how you heard about GiveWell. Again, that’s GiveWell.org/MinuteEarth.
Kangaroo Care – A method of holding a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact, often used to promote bonding and regulate the infant’s body temperature and heart rate. – Kangaroo care has been shown to improve the health outcomes of premature infants by stabilizing their heart rate and temperature.
Incubator – A controlled environment used to care for premature or ill newborns, providing warmth and protection while monitoring vital signs. – The premature infant was placed in an incubator to ensure a stable temperature and to monitor her breathing and heart rate.
Premature – Referring to a baby born before the completion of the normal gestation period, typically before 37 weeks of pregnancy. – Premature infants often require specialized medical care to address their underdeveloped organs and systems.
Bacteria – Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found in various environments, some of which can cause infections in humans. – The presence of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream can lead to serious infections, requiring prompt medical intervention.
Immune System – The body’s defense system composed of various cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect against disease and infection. – A strong immune system is essential for fighting off pathogens and maintaining overall health.
Hypothermia – A medical condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature. – Infants are particularly susceptible to hypothermia, which is why maintaining a warm environment is crucial in neonatal care.
Breastfeeding – The practice of feeding an infant with milk directly from the mother’s breast, providing essential nutrients and antibodies. – Breastfeeding is recommended for its numerous health benefits, including boosting the infant’s immune system and promoting bonding.
Survival – The ability to continue living or existing, especially in spite of difficult conditions or situations. – Advances in neonatal care have significantly increased the survival rates of premature infants.
Health – The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. – Maintaining good health involves a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest.
Temperature – A measure of the warmth or coldness of an environment or body, crucial for maintaining metabolic processes. – Monitoring the infant’s temperature is vital to ensure they remain within a safe and healthy range.
