16/08/2025
La ciencia dice que beneficia al cerebro de tu bebé.
La abuela dice que "lo vas a envrasilartz"....
👶 Skin-to-Skin Contact Boosts Brain Development in Premature Babies
A new Stanford Medicine study shows that “kangaroo care” — holding a diaper-clad newborn against a parent’s bare chest — can significantly improve neurodevelopment in premature babies.
Researchers followed 181 very preterm infants (born ~12 weeks early) at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and found that even small daily increases in skin-to-skin time led to better cognitive scores at 12 months. For example, just 20 extra minutes a day was linked to a 10-point boost on developmental tests, which measure problem-solving, language, and motor skills.
The benefits were consistent regardless of family income, medical complications, or illness severity. Babies in the study averaged only 17 minutes of skin-to-skin per day, yet those with more contact showed stronger brain development.
Scientists believe kangaroo care may mimic the sensory environment of the womb — warmth, heartbeat sounds, and parental voice — while reducing stress for both babies and parents. It also strengthens bonding and can support parents coping with the challenges of the NICU.
The findings, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, suggest skin-to-skin care should be a core medical practice in neonatal units, not just a bonding activity, to give premature infants the best start in life.
Follow Science Sphere for regular scientific updates
RESEARCH PAPER 📄
Molly F. Lazarus et al, "Inpatient Skin-to-skin Care Predicts 12-Month Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants.", The Journal of Pediatrics (2024)