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The objective of the investigation was to study the stability of the cardiorespiratory system of 20 premature boys and girls during maternal kangaroo care (KC) and in the incubator. Stability of heart rate, respiration and oxygen saturation was compared in a pretest-test-posttest design by means of a stability score. The three stability items and the total stability did not change significantly during the three conditions. In some individuals the stability either increased or decreased markedly during Kangaroo Care. The boys showed significantly less cardiorespiratory stability both during kangaroo care and in the incubator compared to the girls.

The reliability of respiratory monitoring, using either chest or back electrodes, was studied in 13 preterm infants during kangaroo care (infant-parent skin to skin contact). In three out of four infants with chest electrodes both infant and parental respiration were clearly visible on pneumograms. In these infants apnoeic pauses were not registered because parental respiration was recorded as infant breathing. Bradycardia and oxygen saturation were, however, properly registered. In infants with electrodes placed on the back infant respiration was less superimposed by parental breathing. However, even in some of these infants parental respiration was visible in the pneumograms. It is concluded that during kangaroo care the electrodes should be placed on the back and monitoring should always include heart rate and oxygen saturation.