Bonding with
Your Baby
Skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in are key parts of bonding with your newborn.
It's Worth It!
Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin contact is a key part of bonding with your newborn. It’s healthy and supports successful breastfeeding, too.
Plan to have your baby skin-to-skin right after birth. Read about the benefits and tips to get started.
I just feel like skin-to-skin contact creates an attachment that is unmatched.
What to Know About
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Skin to skin contact (SSC)
Skin-to-skin contact is simply holding your baby dressed in a diaper against your chest, with your bare skin touching.
The benefits of skin-to-skin contact are:
- Relaxes mother and baby
- Increases bonding
- Strengthens baby's immune system
- Eases pain
- May enhance brain development
- Warms baby
- Less crying
- Easier breastfeeding
- Better blood sugar levels
- Steady body temperatures
- Stable breathing & heart rate
Practicing skin-to-skin contact will help you and your baby breastfeed
When placed skin-to-skin before breastfeeding:
- Baby's first time latching onto the breast is easier
- Baby is more likely to breastfeed better and longer without the need for formula
- Helps breast milk flow
Skin to skin contact (SSC)
Skin-to-skin contact is simply holding your baby dressed in a diaper against your chest, with your bare skin touching.
The benefits of skin-to-skin contact are:
- Relaxes mother and baby
- Increases bonding
- Strengthens baby's immune system
- Eases pain
- May enhance brain development
- Warms baby
- Less crying
- Easier breastfeeding
- Better blood sugar levels
- Steady body temperatures
- Stable breathing & heart rate
Practicing skin-to-skin contact will help you and your baby breastfeed
When placed skin-to-skin before breastfeeding:
- Baby's first time latching onto the breast is easier
- Baby is more likely to breastfeed better and longer without the need for formula
- Helps breast milk flow
Getting Started: What to Expect in the Hospital
Let hospital staff know you want to hold your baby skin-to-skin, as soon as you can.
Just after delivery, your nurse will put your baby on your chest and cover you both with a warm blanket. Snuggle baby and allow them to explore. They may crawl towards your breast and try to latch.
It is ideal to stay skin-to-skin for an hour after birth.
Certain medical causes may delay skin-to-skin. That’s okay! Just start as soon as possible, or have your partner give it a try. Skin-to-skin contact helps them bond with baby, too!
I would unzip his onesie and…lay him on my chest. And I encouraged my husband to do it as well. I think it really helped calm him down.
Skin-to-Skin at Home
Hold baby
At home, try holding your baby dressed only in a diaper against your chest.
Stay close
Hold baby upright between your breasts and enjoy each other’s company.
Consistency for the first few days
In the first few hours and days, it’s helpful for the feeding parent to do most of the skin-to-skin contact. This helps the body make milk.
Include your partner
Partners can help with skin-to-skin contact too. This helps to keep your baby calm, cozy, and warm.
Watch for baby's cues
If baby begins to look for your breast, or shows other signs of hunger, help baby to latch-on.
Staying close to your baby
Rooming-in
At the hospital, rooming-in with your newborn will help you get off to a good start with bonding and breastfeeding. Plan to keep your baby in your room with you. Staying together will help you get to know your baby faster, they will cry less and you will get better quality sleep.
Check out the tips below to learn more about bonding and what to ask for in the hospital.
Allowing me to room-in with my daughter made breastfeeding that much easier, more natural…
What to Know About
Rooming-in
Rooming-in with baby
Rooming-in is the hospital practice that allows parents and infants to be in the same room with each other 24 hours a day.
The benefits of rooming-in are:
- Learning about your baby quickly (how they communicate and what they need)
- Better quality sleep for mom and baby
- Baby will cry less
- More skin-to-skin contact
- Better weight gain for baby
- Getting feeding off to a great start!
- Having a healthy amount of breast milk
- More health benefits for moms who can rest & recover, decreasing stress & postpartum depression
After delivery:
You and your baby will be placed skin-to-skin. Things such as weighing, baths, and exams may be done inside the room after the first hour of skin-to-skin. Your baby will have a small crib in your room, which will allow them to stay with you day and night. Always place the baby on his or her back to sleep. Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area and do not let your baby get too hot during sleep. If you need rest, you can give baby to an alert caregiver.
Limit visitors:
This will allow you to give your full attention to your baby. Ask your visiting family and friends to support your feeding plan and requests to room-in with your new baby!
Rooming-in with baby
Rooming-in is the hospital practice that allows parents and infants to be in the same room with each other 24 hours a day.
The benefits of rooming-in are:
- Learning about your baby quickly (how they communicate and what they need)
- Better quality sleep for mom and baby
- Baby will cry less
- More skin-to-skin contact
- Better weight gain for baby
- Getting feeding off to a great start!
- Having a healthy amount of breast milk
- More health benefits for moms who can rest & recover, decreasing stress & postpartum depression
After delivery:
You and your baby will be placed skin-to-skin. Things such as weighing, baths, and exams may be done inside the room after the first hour of skin-to-skin. Your baby will have a small crib in your room, which will allow them to stay with you day and night. Always place the baby on his or her back to sleep. Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area and do not let your baby get too hot during sleep. If you need rest, you can give baby to an alert caregiver.
Limit visitors:
This will allow you to give your full attention to your baby. Ask your visiting family and friends to support your feeding plan and requests to room-in with your new baby!