Six studies were identified that examined the effects of
still, gentle touch without stroking or massage.27–32 Jay30
provided gentle touch (placing 1 hand on the infant’s head
and the other on its abdomen) to 13 preterm infants for
12 minutes, 4 times a day, for 10 days. The infants were mechanically
ventilated, which suggests that they were physiologically
fragile. Infants who received the gentle touch
had higher hematocrit levels and required less oxygen than
infants in a matched control group. Tribotti32 provided gentle
touch (placing 1 hand on the infant’s head and one on
its lower back while the infant was prone) for 15 minutes,3 times a day, for 3 days. During the first session infants had
decreased transcutaneous oxygen (TcPO2) levels, but by the
third session there were no changes in TcPO2 levels. This
may suggest that the infants had habituated to the touch.