Skin-to-Skin Care and Spontaneous Touch by Fathers in Full-Term Infants: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A series of studies have shown that mothers’ early tactile behaviors have positive effects, both on full-term and preterm infants, and on mothers alike. Regarding fathers, research has focused mostly on paternal skin-to-skin care with preterm infants and has overlooked the tactile behavior effects with full-term newborns on infants’ outcomes and on fathers themselves. The current systematic review considered the evidence regarding paternal tactile behaviors with full-term infants, including skin-to-skin care (SSC) and spontaneous touch (ST), during parent–infant interactions, and differentiated biophysiological, behavioral and psychological variables both in fathers and in infants. We also compared fathers’ and mothers’ tactile behaviors for potential differences. The few available studies suggest that paternal touch—SSC and ST—can have positive effects on fathers and infants alike. They also show that, despite some intrinsic differences, paternal touch is as pleasant as maternal touch. However, given the paucity of studies on the topic, we discuss why this field of research should be further explored.