Skin to Skin; Beyond the Golden Hour
When people talk about skin-to-skin contact (SSC), they often focus on the “golden hour” after birth — that amazing first cuddle, when babies are placed against a parent’s bare chest, warm, calm, alert, and bonding. That hour is magic: it helps with regulation of body temperature, heart rate, breathing, early feeding, and it kickstarts that special connection between mum and baby. But skin-to-skin isn’t just for that first hour. Doing it often in the first few weeks (and beyond) has benefits that are less well known, but still significant. This can be particularly important for mums who were unable to do initial skin to skin due to their birth and its important to understand that there are still huge benefits of SSC beyond the ‘golden hour’.
A growing body of research shows that frequent skin-to-skin contact in the early weeks can affect the baby’s microbiome. For example, a randomized controlled trial with full-term infants who had one hour of skin-to-skin contact daily for the first five weeks found changes in the gut microbiota, leading to more stable microbial communities and healthier immune system development [1]. Another study also found that early physical contact and time spent close to caregivers shaped the infant gut microbiome up to six months [2].
Why does this matter? The microbiome helps with digestion, immune function, and even early “communication” between the gut and the brain. A more balanced microbiome is thought to protect against infections, help the immune system mature, and possibly reduce risks for allergies or other immune‐related issues.
There’s also strong evidence that skin-to-skin helps with parent mental health, especially in reducing anxiety, stress, and symptoms of postnatal depression. A review of studies found that mothers who practised skin-to-skin had lower depressive symptoms and felt more connected with their babies [3]. Another trial showed that mothers who did daily skin-to-skin contact for 12 weeks had more stable anxiety levels and felt less fatigued than those who did not [4]. Even shorter periods of frequent skin-to-skin in the first weeks were linked to lower depression scores and reduced stress [5].
Beyond mental health and microbiome, skin-to-skin supports ongoing bonding, attachment, and feeding. Babies held skin-to-skin often feed more effectively, are calmer, and settle more easily. Professional organisations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend skin-to-skin not just in the first hour, but throughout the early weeks, because of the way it promotes breastfeeding and strengthens parent–infant connection [6,7].
So if you thought that once the first hour was over the opportunity was gone — it isn’t. Skin-to-skin can be something you return to: after feeds, during baby sleep or settling, in the bath, or whenever your baby seems to need closeness. Whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, whether daily or several times a week, these moments will add up.
If you’re navigating early weeks at home, whether you’ve had a smooth birth or a tricky one, skin-to-skin remains one of the kindest, most natural ways to help your baby, help yourself, and help your relationship with your baby grow.
References
Buesa, J. et al. (2024). Daily skin-to-skin contact stabilizes infant gut microbiota. Frontiers in Pediatrics.
UCLA Health (2023). Infants’ microbiomes shaped by physical contact with caregivers. UCLA Health News Release.
Pope, S., Melnyk, B.M. & Scott, K. (2019). Effect of skin-to-skin on maternal depression and bonding. Maternal & Child Health Journal.
van der Heijden, M.J.E. et al. (2022). Skin-to-skin in the first 3 months and maternal well-being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Bigelow, A. et al. (2012). Skin-to-skin contact lowers maternal depression and stress. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing.
Moore, E.R. et al. (2016). Early skin-to-skin contact: Cochrane systematic review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
American Academy of Pediatrics (2015). Skin-to-skin care for term and preterm infants. Pediatrics.