What are the benefits of skin-to-skin contact with a baby?

As with breastfeeding , the benefits of skin-to-skin contact are shared between the baby and everyone who practices it with them. So, the only question is: why not try it?

Imagine for a second (or rather, try to remember!): after spending nine months in total relaxation, floating in 37-degree water, toes spread wide, and lulled by soft sounds and gentle movements… you suddenly find yourself propelled out of your cozy cocoon to face-to-face with unfamiliar faces, harsh lights, and loud noises. No wonder all babies arrive on this earth letting out a scream! Childbirth is a workout for parents, but not only for them.

How can we soothe this somewhat abrupt arrival into the world? Often, a healthy newborn is immediately placed on its mother's skin for warmth and, above all, reassurance . Finally, a voice, a heartbeat, and familiar scents. Finally, its first physical connection with its parents.

“I had an amazing birth. I could sum it up in four words: quick and easy! But what’s more, since the maternity ward was nearly empty that night, we were able to stay in the delivery room just the three of us to enjoy our first moments alone with our daughter. To welcome her gently. She went straight from the gynecologist’s hands to my heart. A truly magical moment. My partner and I took turns with skin-to-skin contact, so we could discover her, observe her while she calmed down. It felt like it lasted fifteen or twenty minutes… but in fact, we stayed for over three hours with Lily snuggled up to us. It was incredible. Our first contact after nine months of imagining her. Our first exchanges of glances, the first cuddles, and the first breastfeeding. I have a fantastic and moving memory of those first moments with my baby. In fact, as I write these words, my keyboard is flooded!” » Marie-Noëlle, Milk Away MUM.

Peace & Love

Skin-to-skin contact is one of the best remedies for the discomfort babies experience in the first few months of their lives (No kidding! Growing up so fast in such a short time can't be a walk in the park all the time) and for parental stress (you breathe in, you breathe out, you have them in sight and within reach—it doesn't get more reassuring than that). Feeling your two bodies pressed tightly together, your breaths synchronized, your heartbeats in unison (the discovery of true love, in short) are precious moments of connection and mutual discovery. And the good news is: just like breastfeeding , skin-to-skin contact provides immediate and shared benefits.

Skin-to-skin contact is ideally practiced from birth with both dad and mom , but to enjoy its benefits in the long term, the experience is extended once back home and as often as possible: to fall asleep calmly, to wake up gently, during breastfeeding, after breastfeeding to promote digestion, in the bath, everywhere and all the time.

A laid-back baby

• Skin-to-skin sessions with the baby remind him of his time in the womb (in other words, his best vacation ever : eating, sleeping, doing nothing. What else?). Hence the philosophical question: but ultimately, why come into the world? This will be the subject of a future article written after a long debate late that evening. Stay tuned! The smell, the voice, and the position evoke pleasant memories for the little one and help to relax him, reduce crying , and lessen the sensation of pain.
• Since nature is so well designed, it's no surprise that immediate contact between a newborn and their mother awakens innate behaviors that facilitate breastfeeding . Skin-to-skin contact is therefore ideal for promoting breastfeeding and milk production . These shared moments of relaxation allow both baby and mother to get to know each other better , bond , and find the most comfortable positions for everyone.
• This state of physical and emotional calm resulting from skin-to-skin contact regulates the infant's heart rate and breathing, and also stabilizes their body temperature . A naked or diapered baby placed skin-to-skin will be warmer than a clothed baby being held in arms. This direct skin contact allows for rapid heat transfer . Studies even show that mothers' breasts increase in temperature by 0.5°C within two minutes of skin-to-skin contact with their baby.
• A stabilization of blood sugar levels is also observed, which limits the risk of hypoglycemia in children.
• Other studies prove that physical contact between parents and children strengthens the child's immune system . The adult's bacterial flora is transmitted to the child, boosting their defenses against certain infections.
• Skin-to-skin contact also makes bedtime easier and promotes better sleep for the child.

Calm parents

Skin-to-skin contact is obviously practiced by both parents . This close physical contact is highly recommended and allows the father to quickly build a strong bond with his child and enjoy all the benefits of the practice.

• A warm baby against your body/heart and boom! Your oxytocin levels skyrocket. And what better way to relax and feel happy than a little boost of the love and happiness hormone?
• Practicing skin-to-skin contact regularly upon returning home limits the risk of baby blues and reduces parental stress .
• Oxytocin is also responsible for the feeling of attachment , so each skin-to-skin session will strengthen your emotional bond with your baby and the trust they have in you. This creates an ideal foundation for building strong relationships later on.
• Skin-to-skin contact even promotes recovery after childbirth by reducing postpartum bleeding and facilitating the expulsion of the placenta .
• It is also recommended that breastfeeding mothers practice skin-to-skin contact before feeding time, as this contact greatly promotes milk production .

"Skin-to-skin contact worked wonders with Lily. As soon as she cried (from tiredness, stress, or discomfort), her dad would hold her in a sling against him, shirtless, and continue walking around the apartment making his work calls. When we were outside and without the sling, I loved to hold her and unzip my nursing top ( a Milk Away, of course ). She would slip part of her face and a little hand inside and snuggle against my skin. Even between feedings, this contact calmed her immediately. It was practical and beautiful." Marie-Noëlle, Milk Away MUM.

Skin-to-skin contact: everywhere and all the time

In short: if you enjoy it, by all means, do it! Skin-to-skin contact is easy to do; you can do it lying in bed or sitting on the sofa, while cooking or gardening, partially or completely undressed (just don't get caught for indecent exposure by your neighbors!), wrapped in a blanket or using a baby carrier. Day or night. It's up to you and baby!

We just need to remember a few basic safety rules : always position the baby upright, and always check that the baby's nose and mouth are clear. Place the baby above the mother's chest and between the father's chest, and never place any fabric over their face. Turn their head to the side and avoid skin-to-skin contact lying down if you are very tired (the risk of falls, crushing, and suffocation is too high). Always make sure the baby doesn't get cold, either by turning up the heat in the room or by swaddling them in a warm blanket.

The final word: undress and hug!

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