The World Health Organization strongly recommends skin-to-skin care and kangaroo mother care as part of preterm infant support. However, in a lot of countries, skin-to-skin care is not properly implemented. Silke Mader, co-founder and chairwoman of the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI), Germany, expounds on this concept, why it is important to practice it immediately, and the crucial role of parents in 24/7 care for a more efficient and holistic development for the preterm infant.
