A global movement advancing Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) Care, connection, safety, and healing.
Founded in 2011 • Observed worldwide
Join Kangaroo Care Day® and be counted →
Kangaroo Care Day® (May 15) was founded in 2011 by Yamile Jackson, PhD, PE, PMP—ergonomics, human factors, and safety engineer, NICU mother, and creator of The Zaky®—in honor of her son Zachary, born prematurely and weighing less than 2 lbs.
What began as a personal experience has grown into a global movement observed in hospitals, communities, and homes around the world.
Why Kangaroo Care Day® exists
Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) Care is more than a practice—it is a powerful, evidence-based approach that supports physiologic stability, emotional connection, neurodevelopment, and healing.
Kangaroo Care Day® brings awareness, consistency, and access to this essential practice—supporting both families and clinicians in creating safe, connected, and healing environments.
A growing global movement
Since 2011, Kangaroo Care Day® has been embraced by hospitals, clinicians, families, and organizations across the world.
Each year, participation continues to expand through:
- Hospital- and team-led celebrations
- Education for families and staff
- Parent and community-led initiatives
- Global collaboration and shared learning
There is no single way to participate—only a shared commitment to connection, safety, and healing.
Why May 15?
May 15 is Zachary Jackson’s birthday. It reflects a family’s experience in the NICU and the life-changing power of Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) Care.
Growing up in Colombia, Yamile Jackson learned about Kangaroo Care—a life-saving practice developed to support premature infants when resources were limited.
Two decades later, in a NICU in Houston, she held her son skin-to-skin, experiencing firsthand the connection, stability, and strength that Kangaroo Care provides—including during a moment when a power failure disrupted life-support systems and human touch became essential.
A decade later, in 2011, this experience gave rise to Kangaroo Care Day®—a global movement to advance awareness, safety, and access to Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) Care.
This date represents more than a birthday—it reflects a continuum: from the origins of Kangaroo Care in Colombia, to a mother’s experience in the NICU, to a global effort to ensure that every baby has access to the power of closeness.
From awareness to consistent practice
Advancing Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) Care requires more than awareness—it requires education, safety, consistency, and the ability to measure progress over time.
Kangaroo Care Day® brings global attention, education, and community engagement to this practice.
Sustained impact is supported by:
- Education for families and clinicians
- Safe and consistent positioning
- Ongoing engagement and support
- Measurement and continuous improvement
Together, these elements contribute to making Kangaroo Care a consistent and accessible part of care.
You are invited to participate
We warmly welcome:
- Hospitals and healthcare teams
- Clinicians and therapists
- Families and caregivers
- Nonprofit and parent organizations
- Anyone who supports babies and families
Kangaroo Care Day® is for everyone.
Use of the Kangaroo Care Day® name and logo
Kangaroo Care Day® is a registered trademark of Nurtured by Design®.
We encourage the use of the name for awareness, education, and participation aligned with the mission of the movement.
To preserve the integrity of Kangaroo Care Day®, use of the name, logo, or associated materials for commercial purposes—including fundraising, product promotion, or sponsorship—requires prior written permission.
Materials and resources provided are intended to support awareness and education. They may be used for non-commercial purposes without modification and with appropriate attribution.