Kangaroo mothering”, the practice of continuous skin-to-skin contact with a newborn baby, results in healthier, more intelligent and successful offspring, a new study reveals.

A 20-year follow-up from a landmark trial found that those nurtured in the kangaroo method scored higher in IQ tests and earned 53 per cent more.

They were also found to be less likely to have behavioural problems such as aggression and display absenteeism than babies in a control group.