Baby crowned ‘Kangaroo Care’ champion at KKH after parents set record 48 hours of skin-to-skin contact

For most parents, the birth of a child is a joyful experience. But for Candy Sutedja and Wu Boyan, the arrival of their son, Riley, was marked by anxiety and fear as he was born premature, nearly a month before his due date.

In Singapore, around 10 per cent of babies are born prematurely, placing them at risk of complications since their bodies may not be fully developed for life outside the womb.

“Besides their smaller size and weight, premature babies have less muscle and fat, making it difficult for them to maintain temperature or sugar levels,” explained Quek Bin Huey, Senior Consultant at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They may also require breathing support due to underdeveloped lungs and face a higher risk of infections due to weaker immune systems.

Sutedja told Mothership that their experience felt like they were “thrown into an unknown world.” She said, “We prayed hard and believed that Riley, being the fighter he is, would pull through.”

Kangaroo Care: A Lifesaving Touch
Today, Riley is a healthy and strong infant, known in the NICU as the “very loud” baby. Much of his recovery is thanks to a simple yet powerful therapy known as kangaroo care, a method that involves snuggling an unclothed baby to a parent’s bare chest, mimicking the pouch of a kangaroo.

While this might seem basic, Quek emphasized its profound benefits, which include improving motor and social skills, enhancing a mother’s milk supply, and strengthening the parent-child bond. “Other studies also showed that kangaroo care helps stabilize heart and respiratory rates, improve oxygen saturation, regulate body temperature, and promote growth,” she added.

Even babies on ventilators can experience the benefits of kangaroo care, as long as they are stable.

Not Just for Moms
Although kangaroo care is often associated with mothers, fathers can participate too. Riley’s father, Wu Boyan, was an active participant in the therapy, providing him with much-needed comfort and security.

“As I’m not much of a talker, kangaroo care gave me a way to provide Riley with security and comfort through touch,” Boyan shared.

Thanks to the dedication of both parents, Riley set a new record at KKH’s Care-a-Ton event, clocking in 48 hours of kangaroo care over two weeks—more than double last year’s record.

Here’s Riley today, two months later: Photo courtesy of Candy Sutedja.

How to Start Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo care isn’t just for premature babies; full-term infants can benefit from it too. Quek shared some tips on how to start:

Avoid strong odours like perfume or cigarette smoke.
Parents can wear front-opening shirts, while the baby should wear just a diaper.
Place the baby upright on your bare chest, ensuring their face is turned to one side with airways open.
Cover the baby’s back with a blanket.
Hold the baby in this position for at least an hour to maximise the benefits.