There is no specific age when skin-to-skin contact should stop. The benefits of skin-to-skin contact for babies extend throughout their first year. This practice, also known as kangaroo care, offers numerous advantages for newborns, particularly premature infants or those with low birth weight. While often associated with newborns and breastfeeding, the positive effects continue well beyond the initial months of life. Skin-to-skin contact promotes bonding and helps establish a loving parent-infant relationship.
The provided references confirm this:
- BreastmilkCounts.com: States explicitly that "There is no specific age when skin-to-skin should stop. It provides powerful benefits for your baby throughout her first year."
- Cleveland Clinic: Details the benefits of kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), emphasizing its advantages for babies, especially those born prematurely or with low birth weight. The reference does not specify an age limit.
- UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative: Highlights the importance of skin-to-skin contact for developing close, loving parent-infant relationships and initiating breastfeeding, again without specifying an age limit.
The other provided references discuss skin aging and age spots, unrelated to the age at which skin-to-skin contact should cease.
