Key takeaways: When parent and baby are stable, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact in the first hour helps keep babies warm, steadies breathing and blood sugar, and supports early breastfeeding. Routine tasks like weighing can usually wait. Partners can do skin-to-skin too.
The first hour after birth is often called the “golden hour.” For healthy babies and parents, it’s a time to slow down, stay close, and let instincts take over.
What Happens During the Golden Hour
- Your baby is placed skin-to-skin on your bare chest and dried, with a warm blanket over both of you.
- Your baby is often alert in the first hour, looking around and responding to your voice.
- Many babies show pre-feeding behaviors: rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, licking, and crawling toward the breast. Many latch on their own within the first hour.
- The care team watches you and your baby closely while giving you space.
Benefits
Research supports early skin-to-skin contact for healthy newborns. Benefits include:
- Temperature regulation: a parent’s chest helps keep the baby warm.
- Stable breathing and heart rate.
- Better blood sugar levels.
- Less crying.
- Breastfeeding: early skin-to-skin is associated with a higher chance of breastfeeding and longer breastfeeding duration.
What Can Wait
Many routine tasks can be done after the first hour or during skin-to-skin, including:
- Weighing and measuring.
- The first bath (the WHO recommends delaying it at least 24 hours when possible).
- Vitamin K and eye ointment (can often be given during skin-to-skin or after the first feed).
Safety During Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin is safe with close monitoring. The AAP recommends that a staff member or alert support person watch the baby, especially if the parent is tired or medicated. Make sure:
- Your baby’s face is visible.
- The nose and mouth are not covered.
- The head is turned to one side, with the neck straight.
- Your baby’s chest is against yours.
If you feel sleepy, ask someone to move your baby to the bassinet.
After a Cesarean
Many hospitals support skin-to-skin in the operating room or recovery room. If the birthing parent can’t hold the baby, a partner can.
When the Golden Hour Looks Different
If your baby needs medical care, the golden hour may be delayed. Skin-to-skin can begin as soon as you and your baby are stable, including in many NICUs (kangaroo care).
The Bottom Line
Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact in the first hour supports your baby’s transition and early breastfeeding. Ask for it in your birth preferences, and let routine tasks wait when it’s safe.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Sources
- Moore ER, Bergman N, Anderson GC, Medley N. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;11(11):CD003519.
- Feldman-Winter L, Goldsmith JP; Committee on Fetus and Newborn; Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Safe sleep and skin-to-skin care in the neonatal period for healthy term newborns. Pediatrics. 2016;138(3):e20161889.
- World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Maternal and Newborn Care for a Positive Postnatal Experience. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
- Widström AM, Brimdyr K, Svensson K, Cadwell K, Nissen E. Skin-to-skin contact the first hour after birth, underlying implications and clinical practice. Acta Paediatr. 2019;108(7):1192-1204.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
