From your baby’s first breath, your body is their favorite place to be. Skin-to-skin contact is exactly what it sounds like: placing your baby directly on your bare chest. It’s simple, natural, and incredibly powerful.
We talk a lot about the fourth trimester here at Lolo. It’s a time when your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb and your body is adjusting to everything—from milk supply to healing to learning how to be someone’s everything. Skin-to-skin can support all of that.
Why Skin-to-Skin Matters
Research has consistently shown that skin-to-skin contact offers both emotional and biological benefits. One of the most comprehensive studies, published in Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science (2021), found that early skin-to-skin contact improves infant stress regulation, supports maternal bonding, and even benefits long-term brain development in babies born both term and preterm.
But even beyond the lab, we see it daily in the real world. When a baby rests on your chest, their heart rate steadies, their temperature balances, and they breathe more easily. You both release oxytocin—the bonding hormone—and the baby often begins to root and breastfeed more easily.
Breastfeeding & Skin-to-Skin: A Winning Combo
Keeping your baby skin-to-skin during and after feeds can help support your milk supply, especially in the early days when your body is learning how much milk to make.
When your baby is nestled tummy to tummy against you, they tend to stay calmer, latch more easily, and feed more effectively. This relaxed, natural position helps with milk flow and creates a more connected, comfortable feeding experience for both of you. They stay in a natural, upright feeding position. They can more easily latch, stay calm, and feed longer—all of which support better milk transfer and a more comfortable feeding session for both of you.
Why We Created The Lolo
We made The Lolo because we couldn’t find a carrier that was supportive enough for breastfeeding and soft enough for skin-to-skin. We wanted something that let you move through your day while still giving your baby what they need most: you.
Thanks to The Lolo, you finally have a way to increase your skin-to-skin contact while breastfeeding your baby in those critical and all-encompassing first few months—all while you have friends over, play with your toddler, or go to lunch with the girls.
When & How to Do Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin isn’t just for the delivery room (though that’s a beautiful place to start). You can practice it:
- Right after birth (whether vaginal or C-section)
- During breastfeeding sessions
- Anytime baby is fussy or overstimulated
- Before or after baths…or my favorite, take a bath together!
- At bedtime to help soothe baby to sleep
To do it safely, place your baby on your bare chest, upright between your breasts. Cover both of you with a soft blanket or wear a secure wrap. Make sure the baby's airway is always visible and their head is turned to one side.
Skin-to-Skin Isn't Just for Moms
Dads, partners, grandparents, and caregivers can all do skin-to-skin. In fact, it’s a wonderful way for your baby to bond with other loving adults. Babies recognize voices and smells from the womb, so holding them close helps build those early connections and gives you both a burst of feel-good hormones.
FAQ: Skin-to-Skin Contact
How long should I do skin-to skin each day?
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There’s no such thing as too much. Even 15 minutes here and there can make a difference—but aim for at least 60 minutes a day in the early weeks.
Can I do skin-to-skin while bottle feeding?
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Yes! Whether you’re nursing, pumping, or formula feeding, skin-to-skin can still help your baby feel safe, connected, and calm.
Is it still helpful after the newborn stage??
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Absolutely. While the benefits are strongest in the first few months, skin-to-skin continues to support bonding, especially during feeding, teething, or stressful times.
Final Thoughts
Skin-to-skin isn’t just a trend—it’s a biologically wired, deeply effective way to care for your baby. And in the chaos of new motherhood, it’s also a moment of stillness. A pause. A chance to hold your baby and say, without words: I’m here.
