Staff at Dorset County Hospital dressed up in costumes for a day of raising awareness of 'kangaroo care'.

Staff at the Special Care Baby Unit wore kangaroo costumes, enjoyed cake and handed out certificates to babies in celebration of Kangaroo Care Awareness Day on Wednesday, May 15.

Kangaroo care generally refers to skin-to-skin contact between babies and their parents soon after birth. It can be done with both premature and full-term babies and is known to have a number of benefits; including bonding and reduced stress.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation said: "Our Special Care Baby Unit celebrated Kangaroo Care Awareness Day.

"Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact and is very important for all babies, especially those who are born premature or sick.

"Staff and parents enjoyed cake, and the babies received a certificate to mark the day."