Chinese Academy of Sciences May 29 2026 Preterm birth and low birth weight remain major contributors to neonatal death and long-term developmental challenges. Kangaroo mother care, first introduced as an alternative to insufficient incubator care, combines skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding, early discharge, and follow-up support. Earlier guidelines recommended kangaroo mother care (KMC) after clinical stabilization, but newer evidence has shifted attention toward starting care