Traditional Indian Kangaroo Care: More Than Just Skin-to-Skin

Kangaroo Care

Have you ever watched a kangaroo mother carrying her baby in her pouch, called a joey, close to her skin? If so, do you know why? The answer is simple yet effective: they do that because this pouch creates a highly specialized environment for their baby that helps in the development and survival of immature offspring.

According to sources, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) was first practiced in Bogotá, Colombia in the late 1970s. But as an Indian, do you know that the philosophy and idea behind this are deeply rooted in Ayurveda and traditional Indian parenting?

In this article, we will tell you about Kangaroo Care—but in Indian style.

Kangaroo Care Indian Way

What is Kangaroo Care (KMC)

Kangaroo Care is a simple but effective way of protecting a baby by placing the baby against the bare chest of a mother. The close skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn helps regulate their heartbeat and breathing, and encourages breastfeeding. The warmth of the mother's skin helps the baby maintain a stable body temperature. It can also be performed by the father, but usually, mothers do it more often as they spend most of the time with their baby.

Ayurvedic Principles Reflected in Kangaroo Care

The main idea behind skin-to-skin contact between a mother and baby is deeply rooted in the Ayurvedic principle of Kaumarbhritya or Navajata Shishu Paricharya. It promotes the philosophy of nurturing, bonding, and gentle care of the baby. The World Health Organization notably recognized the evidence-based benefits of skin-to-skin contact in 2023. But in rural India, the idea behind kangaroo care was already practiced centuries ago. Co-sleeping with an infant and giving regular oil rubs capture the same warmth, touch, and bonding that today's KMC champions.

Kangaroo Care in the Light of Traditional Indian Parenting

Though the term Kangaroo Mother Care doesn't appear in old Ayurvedic texts and isn't widely used in Indian homes, the idea of skin-on-skin contact between parent and baby still lives in countless Indian households. This family-focused way of caring for newborns is quietly followed in many parts of India.

Breastfeeding, co-sleeping, baby oil massage, and celebrating baby rituals together are some of the techniques used to strengthen the bond between baby and family.

There is an important ritual performed in Indian families called Jatakarma soon after a child is born, where the father whispers sacred mantras into the baby’s ear. In the Jatakarma ceremony, the elders or the father gently touch honey or ghee to the baby’s lips.

The first breast milk, called colostrum, is considered highly valuable in Ayurveda and traditional Indian parenting. It is regarded as a natural, powerful substance that helps balance the new-born's body energies and prepares the digestive system for regular feeding.

In Indian households, performing Shishu Abhyanga or infant oil massage is common. Elders of the family, like Dadi or Nani, gently massage the baby with warm herbal oils. There are proven scientific effects of oil massage in babies. According to research published on PubMed, performing Shishu Abhyanga supports healthy growth, improves sleep, and strengthens immunity.

Co-sleeping is another aspect of Kangaroo Mother Care. In India, sleeping with your newborn is the most prevalent practice. Unlike in Western culture, where babies are placed in a baby crib, in India, babies generally sleep with their mothers—strengthening the bond between mother and baby.

Kangaroo Care: Benefits for Newborns

The Indian way of Kangaroo Care offers a range of simple yet powerful benefits for newborns. Numerous studies highlight these advantages.

• Holding the baby bare against warm skin helps them maintain a steady body temperature.

• Close contact helps in the successful initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.

• A mother's gentle warmth gives the baby security and builds a stronger emotional link. Infants carried this way usually show steadier heartbeats, calmer breaths, and higher oxygen levels.

• Shishu Abhyanga—light oil massage—brings extra warmth, soft words, and gentle eye contact while fortifying muscles, bones, and tendons.

• Finally, the first drops of colostrum offer perfect nutrition and help the baby adjust to the world beyond the womb.

  
  

How to Practice Kangaroo Care in the Indian Way:

Try these easy Indian Kangaroo Care tips to deepen your connection with your little one:

• Co-sleep with your baby—don’t put them in a baby crib.

• Breastfeeding is an important part of the motherhood journey—breastfeed your baby.

• Oil and massage your baby, preferably before the bath. It’s an easy way to connect with your baby through communication, eye contact, and touch.

• Fathers, please hold your baby often in your lap or against your chest, especially in a skin-to-skin position.

• Additionally, perform Indian rituals together like Jatakarma (Birth Ceremony), Namkaran, Jalabhishekam (First Bath), Annaprashan (First Solid Food), Nishkramana (First Outing), Mundan (First Hair Shaving), and Karnavedha (Ear Piercing).

  
  

A Note From MUMYU

MUMYU offers prenatal and postnatal clothing for women and exclusive products for infants. MUMYU products are sustainable, comfortable, and practical. We offer swaddling sheets, reusable cloth nappies, washcloths, and a hand-knit collection for babies. If you liked this article, we recommend you visit the baby product page as well.