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Hand Hugging

• Ask your NICU team how to appropriately give your baby a hand hug and when to engage in this form of touch. It generally involves placing one hand on your baby's head and another hand on their feet or on their arms/tummy in a gentle yet firm manner.

• Provide a hand hug to help calm down your baby when displaying any signs of distress. Hand hugging can be done at all times but should not interfere with your baby's sleep.

• Hand hugging provides many benefits. Some of the benefits include helping to calm your baby, the development of their nervous system, and providing security and trust.

Kangaroo Care

• Kangaroo care is another technique for skin-to-skin holding.

• There are many benefits of kangaroo care, such as promoting attachment, providing warmth, decreasing stress, and supporting future brain and emotional development. Experts indicate that the longer the skin-to-skin contact is, the better, so aim for as much time as possible.

• Although it can be scary, if the NICU team says you can begin kangaroo care, your baby is ready for it! However, if your baby is not ready, there are many other bonding methods to engage in. See using sound and using scent for other specific strategies. 

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• Other ways you can use touch to bond with your baby include rocking and cuddling your child with a firm touch, or placing your arms around your baby as they lie in bed to create a contained space that mimics the womb. To help your baby breast feed later on, you can allow your baby to suckle. Be sure to ask your nurse or neonatal professional when you can start this form of care.