Dad's chest vs. incubator: new trial tests skin-to-skin transfer for tiniest babies

NCT ID NCT05820386

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether carrying a very preterm baby skin-to-skin on the father's chest from the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) keeps the baby just as warm as the standard incubator transfer. About 118 babies born before 34 weeks will take part. The main goal is to see if skin-to-skin contact prevents heat loss as well as an incubator does.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
skin-to-skin contact (procedure)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could show that skin-to-skin transfer is a safe and effective alternative to incubator transfer for very preterm infants, potentially improving bonding and outcomes.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial (118 infants) focused on temperature stability, not long-term outcomes. The procedure may not keep babies warm enough, and results may not apply to all preterm infants.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CHU Angers

    Angers, 49000, France

  • Neonatal and paediatric service, University Hospital, Tours

    Tours, 37000, France

  • Neonatal medicine and intensive care unit, University Hospital, Orléans

    Orléans, 45000, France

  • Neonatology service, University Hospital, Toulouse

    Toulouse, 31300, France

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