China—In Nanjing Maternity and Child Healthcare hospital, two men were able to experience something not a lot of fathers can say they’ve tried: a bonding exercise called kangaroo care.
Kangaroo care is when parents (usually moms) hold their newborns close, making sure there is skin-to-skin contact, for as long as possible each day. (The gesture was so named since it is similar to kangaroos who hold their young close to their bodies.)
The said dads held their newborns, who both weighed less than 1.5 kilograms, against their chest, beneath a long robe while holding perfectly still for two hours.
Kangaroo care has become increasingly popular in recent years. This method has been known to be highly effective in soothing premature newborns.
More ways daddy can bond with baby like mommy
Aside from this method, dads in Shanghai have also tried “labor stimulation”.
Last August, three men who wanted to fully experience childbirth allowed themselves to be strapped with labor stimulating belts at their local childbirth preparation center.
They also tried breastfeeding, and changing diapers for 10 days straight.
Now, that’s taking preparing for fatherhood to a whole new level.
What do you think, daddies? Are kangaroo care and labor stimulation methods you’d like to try?
Watch: Touching tribute video for a premature baby on his first birthday
photo source: Shanghai List
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