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Publication: Parent-Training with Kangaroo Care [using The Zaky ZAK] Impacts Infant Neurophysiological Development & Mother-Infant Neuroendocrine Activity

Infants were full-term (> 37 weeks GA). Mothers assigned to the Kangaroo Care Group were given a KC wrap (The Zaky ZAK, aka Kangaroo Zak)

Parent-Training with Kangaroo Care Impacts Infant Neurophysiological Development & Mother-Infant Neuroendocrine Activity

Parent-Training with Kangaroo Care Impacts Infant Neurophysiological Development & Mother-Infant Neuroendocrine Activity

Jillian S. Hardin, Nancy Aaron Jones,  Krystal D. Mize, Melannie Platt

Infant Behavior and Development, Volume 58, February 2020, 101416; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101416

Infants were full-term (> 37 weeks GA). Mothers assigned to the Kangaroo Care Group were given a KC wrap (Nurtured by Design's  The Zaky ZAK/Kangaroo Zak)

ABSTRACT
A randomized control trial was conducted to investigate the effects of skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest contact (kangaroo care, KC) in mother-infant dyads on patterns of infant brain activity and associated mother-infant neurohormone releases. 33 mother-infant dyads participated during pregnancy (29–38 weeks gestation), at neonatal and 3-month periods.

Overall, analyses indicated that:
1) infants in the KC group showed left frontal brain activation patterns (asymmetry and coherence) associated with KC training;
2) KC produced moderate to large increases in oxytocin levels; and
3) KC yielded moderate decreases in cortisol reactivity.

Findings suggest KC may garner favorable neuro-maturational and neurobiological outcomes for dyads.