Touching and holding your baby in the NICU

Can you hold your baby if they’re in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

All parents look forward to the time when they can hold their baby. Because your baby is in the NICU, you may not be sure when this will happen. Some babies can be held right away, while others are too sick to be held. If your baby can be held, try doing kangaroo care (also called skin-to-skin care). If your baby is too sick for you to hold them, there are still ways to gently touch them.

What is kangaroo care?

Kangaroo care is when you lay your diapered baby on your bare chest. When holding your baby skin-to-skin put a blanket on your baby’s back to help keep them warm.

Some babies can start kangaroo care soon after birth and some babies may need to wait. You can do kangaroo care with your baby even if they’re connected to NICU equipment. Ask your baby’s providers when you can start kangaroo care with your baby and how often.

Research shows that doing kangaroo care for at least one hour is best. But you can do it for as long as you and your baby are comfortable. It’s important to stay awake when you’re doing kangaroo care.

You can also do kangaroo care with your baby at home. It’s a wonderful way for you to be close to your baby.

Kangaroo care may help your baby:

• Stay warm
• Keep their heart and breathing regular
• Gain weight
• Spend more time in deep sleep and relaxed
• Spend more time being quiet and less time crying when they’re awake
• Have a better chance at breastfeeding

Kangaroo care may help: 

• Reduce your stress
• You feel close to your baby
• Build your confidence to care for your baby
• You produce more breast milk

How can you comfort your baby if they’re not ready to be held?

If your baby isn’t ready to be held, there are other ways you can be close to them. Gentle, still touch is very important, even for very sick or small babies.

One way to do this is to do hand hugs (also called a containment hold or hand swaddling). Place very light pressure on your baby’s head with one hand and put your other hand on their tummy or gently cup their feet. When you touch your baby, don’t stroke them. This can be overwhelming for babies.

Doing hand hugs can sometimes calm your baby when they’re fussy. It also can make you feel better because you can see your baby breathing and being calmed by your touch.

You can also read to your baby in the NICU. Reading is one of the most important activities you can share with your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading to your baby early and often. It’s never too early to start reading with them. Reading may help:

• You bond with and feel close to your baby
• Your baby’s language development
• Reduce your stress

While your baby may not understand the words that you say, they do recognize your voice. Hearing your voice is one way that your baby will begin to learn language. Language skills are important to your baby developing future skills like reading, writing, and interacting with others.

Last reviewed: April 2025