Did you know that kangaroos have a gestation process of only 28 to 33 days? This peculiarity is just the beginning of a fascinating natural phenomenon that inspired one of the most innovative strategies in neonatal care: the Mother Kangaroo Method (MMC).

The story behind the kangaroo mother method

The kangaroo is a marsupial mammal native to Oceania, recognized for its peculiar mode of reproduction, in which the embryo is born extremely premature (approximately 2 cm long) after a short gestation of 28 to 33 days. The baby kangaroo, still without developed hair, eyes and ears, climbs into its mother’s marsupial pouch, where it will continue its development for several months. This natural behavior inspired Dr. Edgar Rey Sanabria, a Colombian neonatologist, to devise a care strategy for premature newborns by replicating the nature of marsupials.

Dr. Rey Sanabria, a professor at the National University of Colombia, working at the Maternal and Child Institute in Bogota in 1978 observed that due to the lack of incubators many premature babies were dying from infections, hypothermia or lack of human contact, so he proposed a more natural approach. The initial idea was to encourage early contact between mother and baby, seeking to provide the benefits of skin-to-skin contact, early breastfeeding and early hospital discharge. This approach, although initially met with reservation, proved to be very effective, reducing mortality and improving outcomes for preterm infants.

The Mother Kangaroo Method (MMC)

KMC is an innovative technique for the care of low birth weight and/or premature neonates. It is based on skin-to-skin contact between the baby and his or her mother, as do kangaroos, or failing that, the father or a responsible adult. This interaction provides the baby with the necessary warmth, stimulates breastfeeding, protects against infections and offers the emotional security that only close contact can provide.

CMM not only matches traditional care such as incubators, but in many cases surpasses them in terms of efficacy, reducing mortality and morbidity. In addition, it significantly decreases the hospital stay and costs associated with the treatment of preterm infants. This method is recommended for stable babies who can breathe on their own and do not present serious illnesses.

When do you stop babysitting?

Skin-to-skin contact can continue until the baby is able to regulate its temperature autonomously, which usually occurs around 38 weeks gestation, or when the baby is no longer comfortable in the kangaroo position.

The Mother Kangaroo Law in Colombia

In 2024, Colombia’s Law 2433 guaranteed universal and mandatory access to the Mother Kangaroo Program. This legislation ensures that all premature and low birth weight babies receive adequate care through this model of care.

A Colombian Legacy of Excellence

Dr. Rey Sanabria not only devised the Mother Kangaroo Method, but also managed to make Colombia a world reference in the implementation of this neonatal care model. Institutions such as the Kangaroo Foundation and the Instituto Materno Infantil in Bogota are today leaders in training, research and application of this technique.

Dr. Rey Sanabria’s legacy has transcended borders. From Africa to Asia, the Mother Kangaroo Method has been adapted to different cultures, democratizing access to dignified, affectionate and science-based neonatal care.

“The Golden Triangle of Neonatology.”

Dr. Sanabria summed up the essence of his method in a simple but powerful phrase:

“Love, warmth and mother’s milk” are the essential pillars for the well-being of newborns. In her own words, “I have not invented anything, I simply adapted the teachings of nature to human behavior.” Her approach revolutionized neonatal care, replacing artificial incubators with a natural solution: the mother of the premature baby.

Now, the greatest challenge for human beings is to understand how nature respects its habitat, its spaces and achieves an excellent coexistence and how we will adapt these models to live in society!

What is your proposal?

Ministry of Health of Colombia(2024). Law 2433 of 2024: Guarantee of access to the Mother Kangaroo Program. Bogotá, Colombia.

Pediatrics National University of Colombia (2022). Impact of the Mother Kangaroo Method on neonatal health: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology, 29(2), 104-112.

Kangaroo Foundation(2020). The legacy of Dr. Edgar Rey Sanabria and the Mother Kangaroo method. Retrieved from https://fundacioncanguro.org

Sanabria, E. R. (1978). Mother Kangaroo Method: An innovative approach in the care of premature neonates. Instituto Materno Infantil de Bogotá, Colombia.