Parent infant closeness: what traditions and beliefs can change

Why are you sometimes separated from your newborn?

Why do traditions and beliefs limit parent infant closeness? Many caregivers notice that staying near a newborn does not always feel straightforward. Cultural expectations, gender norms and hospital routines can all pull a parent away from their baby at a time when nearness matters most. A recent study explored exactly which barriers healthcare workers see every day and how these barriers affect families. The researchers focused on societal traditions and gender discrimination as factors that reduce closeness. They also looked at what happens when hospital rules and limited resources keep parents from being close. Understanding these barriers is a first step toward working around them, even when the system feels hard to change.¹

Why closeness with a newborn matters

Physical nearness between a parent and a newborn supports the wellbeing of both. That is the starting point researchers describe before they look at what gets in the way.

Closeness benefits are confirmed for both stable and less stable newborns. Even so, separation often remains the standard practice, particularly when a baby is small or unwell. That gap between what is known and what is practiced is part of what makes this topic feel confusing.¹

Cultural beliefs and gender discrimination

Societal traditions and cultural beliefs are documented to hamper parent infant closeness. These patterns are not limited to one country. They show up wherever certain expectations about families and newborn care have deep roots.

Gender discrimination is identified as an ongoing problem for newborn closeness. When resources are scarce, some families may direct more care toward boy babies than girls. Cultural views about which parent should be present and who is expected to stay away also shape how much contact a newborn receives in the first days.¹

• Cultural beliefs about how newborns should be handled can limit how often a parent holds or stays near their baby.¹
• Gender discrimination can affect whether a newborn receives the same closeness as siblings of a different sex.¹
• Family education levels and social expectations shape how parents understand closeness and who is expected to provide it.¹

Hospital routines and limited resources

Hospital routines and limited resources often separate parents from their babies. Ward rules, set schedules and how staff manage their day can mean a newborn stays in a different area from their parent even when both are well.

A heavy workload and not enough staff make it harder for healthcare workers to support closeness. When teams are stretched thin, they have less time to help parents hold their babies or stay nearby. That does not mean staff do not value closeness. Their own actions and attitudes were described as a positive force that strengthens the parent infant bond when they can give that time.¹

1. Ward rules and daily routines can physically separate parents and newborns during the hours when closeness would be most helpful.¹
2. Limited space, seating and privacy in wards reduce the chance that a parent can stay close to their newborn comfortably.¹
3. Heavy staff workloads and workforce shortages mean healthcare workers may not have enough time to help parents stay near their babies.¹

Small ward changes that support closeness

Small, low-cost changes in the ward can help keep parents close and reduce pressure on staff. A comfortable place to sit near a newborn is one example researchers highlight. When parents have somewhere to rest while staying near their baby, they are more able to be present.

Keeping newborns spatially close to their mothers, offering a comfortable environment and ensuring privacy were all described as ways to strengthen closeness. Supporting parents to take on a primary caregiving role, with guidance from healthcare workers, also matters. When parents feel trusted and supported, the parent infant bond deepens naturally.¹

Everyday ways to stay close

• If a nurse offers a different room or seat near your baby, ask if it is available to you.
• When you visit a ward, bring a light blanket or shawl so holding your baby feels comfortable.
• If hospital rules feel unclear, ask a staff member to explain when you can stay close.
• At home, choose a calm spot where you and your baby can be near each other without rush.

Parent infant closeness in your daily life

Research confirms that closeness happens wherever you and your baby share space. That is not limited to a hospital setting. Holding your baby during feeding, resting nearby while they sleep or simply being present in the same room all count.

Skin to skin contact is one of the simplest ways to build closeness. It means holding your baby against your bare chest so both of you can feel each other. You do not need any equipment or special training for this. You just need a quiet moment and a safe place to sit or recline.

When cultural traditions suggest that a newborn should be kept apart or that closeness is not necessary, the research points in a different direction. Societal norms sometimes work against what feels right for you and your baby. Noticing those patterns can help you make choices that feel more aligned.¹

What parent infant closeness actually means

Understanding closeness

Physical closeness

Being near your baby in a way that allows touch, eye contact or shared space. This includes holding, carrying or sitting close together.

Emotional closeness

The sense of connection between you and your baby that grows through attentive, gentle interaction over time.

Skin to skin contact

Holding your baby against your bare chest so both of you feel each other's warmth and presence directly.

Parental involvement

Taking part in your baby's daily care such as feeding, holding and responding to their signals. Healthcare workers can guide and support this.

Where this evidence comes from

This research comes from interviews with healthcare workers at hospitals in Nepal. The study explored barriers and supports for closeness in labor rooms, postnatal wards and units for newborns needing extra care. The barriers described here may look different in other settings. Some may apply widely while others reflect local traditions and systems. The core finding is worth considering wherever you are: traditions and cultural beliefs can work against closeness, and small practical changes can help.¹