This review assesses the effects of early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on breastfeeding, physiological adaptation, and behavior in healthy mother-infant dyads. Thirty-four randomized controlled trials involving 2177 participants were included. Early SSC was found to have a statistically significant positive effect on breastfeeding at one to four months postbirth (risk ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.53) and increased breastfeeding duration (mean difference 42.55 days, 95% CI −1.69 to 86.79). Late preterm infants had better cardio-respiratory stability with early SSC (mean difference 2.88, 95% CI 0.53 to 5.23). Blood glucose levels 75 to 90 minutes after birth were significantly higher in SSC infants (mean difference 10.56 mg/dL, 95% CI 8.40 to 12.72). The methodological quality of trials was mixed, and there was high heterogeneity for some outcomes. The authors conclude that early SSC benefits breastfeeding outcomes, cardio-respiratory stability, and reduces infant crying, with no apparent short- or long-term negative effects. Further research is recommended, with a focus on consistent outcome measures and detailed reporting of intervention details.This review assesses the effects of early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on breastfeeding, physiological adaptation, and behavior in healthy mother-infant dyads. Thirty-four randomized controlled trials involving 2177 participants were included. Early SSC was found to have a statistically significant positive effect on breastfeeding at one to four months postbirth (risk ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.53) and increased breastfeeding duration (mean difference 42.55 days, 95% CI −1.69 to 86.79). Late preterm infants had better cardio-respiratory stability with early SSC (mean difference 2.88, 95% CI 0.53 to 5.23). Blood glucose levels 75 to 90 minutes after birth were significantly higher in SSC infants (mean difference 10.56 mg/dL, 95% CI 8.40 to 12.72). The methodological quality of trials was mixed, and there was high heterogeneity for some outcomes. The authors conclude that early SSC benefits breastfeeding outcomes, cardio-respiratory stability, and reduces infant crying, with no apparent short- or long-term negative effects. Further research is recommended, with a focus on consistent outcome measures and detailed reporting of intervention details.