WRH Hops to Number One in National Kangaroo-A-Thon
25-8-2026
Windsor Regional Hospital is the proud winner of the CPBF (Canadian Premature Babies Foundation) 2026 National Kangaroo-A-Thon - Level 2 category.
The 2026 National Kangaroo-A-Thon was an expansive, month-long event designed to elevate the standard of neonatal care across Canada.
Hospitals tracked skin-to-skin care throughout the month-long campaign, choosing their own two-week period during the month of May coinciding with Kangaroo Care Awareness Day (May 15).
"Winning this national title is a true testament to the dedication of our NICU staff and the unwavering commitment of our families," says Nicole Delaney, Clinical Practice Coordinator, NICU.
Kangaroo Care is the practice of holding a premature infant skin-to-skin, diaper-only, against a parent’s bare chest. It functions as a powerful, multi-system medical intervention. Its benefits include thermoregulation, vital sign stabilization, and maternal health for mothers.
Windsor Regional Hospital’s NICU was grouped with 22 other Level 2 NICU's and accumulated a total of 750 hour of Kangaroo time in 14 days.
"Achieving 750 hours of skin-to-skin care in just two weeks takes an incredible team effort," says Deborah Mayea-Parent, Director, Women and Children's Programs. "Seeing our families embrace this practice so wholeheartedly is the real victory."
Winners were calculated by the average daily hours of skin-to-skin care per eligible baby.
Windsor Regional Hospital’s NICU averaged two hours and 38 minutes of skin-to-skin care per eligible baby daily.
In total, 49 hospitals across Canada participated.
“We are excited to be celebrating Windsor Regional Hospital and the incredible commitment their NICU team has shown to Skin-to-Skin care,” says Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director, CPBF. “Their participation in CPBF’s National Kangaroo-A-Thon demonstrates what is possible when healthcare teams prioritize skin-to-skin care while actively engaging families as partners in their baby’s care. We are so proud to celebrate the Windsor team, the families who participated, and the babies at the heart of it all.”
Level 2 NICU (Special Care Nursery) manages moderately ill or stable premature infants who are generally born at or after 30 to 32 weeks gestation. They specialize in helping babies grow, gain weight, learn to feed, and transition off mild oxygen or brief intravenous support.
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