Reimagining Kangaroo Care for Preterm Infants: A Novel Garment for Safe and Comfortable Bonding

Background/Objectives: Kangaroo Care (KC) has been proven to enhance physiological stability, growth, and bonding in preterm, low-birthweight infants. Despite its benefits, KC is underutilized in Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) due to challenges in managing medical equipment. This study introduces the Kangarobe (TM), a novel garment designed to facilitate safe, comfortable, and efficient KC for medically fragile infants in high-acuity NICUs. Methods: From 2021 to 2023, a feasibility study was conducted involving 25 infant-parent dyads in a Level IV NICU. The Kangarobe (TM) was designed using human-centered design principles and tested on infants dependent on respiratory support. Surveys employing a 5-point Likert scale were administered to parents and nursing staff to assess safety, comfort, ease of use, and procedural access. Results: Survey results showed positive feedback from both parents and nursing staff, particularly in the areas of safety and comfort. For example, 72-80% of parents and nurses responded positively regarding ease and comfort. High level of agreement (76%) on the security of medical line management, with minimal negative feedback. In addition, parents using the Kangarobe (TM) held their infants for an average of 171 min per session, with a notable increase compared to the typical 75 min, indicating enhanced comfort and feasibility for extended KC sessions. The Kangarobe (TM) successfully enabled the secure management of medical lines and tubes, with the vertical access window improving procedural efficiency without interrupting KC. Conclusions: The Kangarobe (TM) demonstrates promise in addressing barriers to KC in high-acuity NICUs. By enhancing safety, comfort, and ease of use, it supports wider adoption of KC practices, potentially improving patient safety, staff efficiency, and family-centered care.