In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the value of providing
individualized, developmental care (DC) in the NICU as a strategy to reduce
NICU-induced stress and promote optimal health and developmental outcomes in
affected infants.4-9 Although providing appropriate handling is generally considered
an important component of DC, few studies have evaluated specific types of
handling and tactile stimulation provided as a component of DC. Several
researchers have suggested the need to identify the types of touch that might
be provided to fragile preterm infants to afford them comfort and minimize the
stresses associated with the NICU environment.10 Tactile interaction with their
infants is also important for parents of preterm infants, since the desire to maintain
contact between parent and infant is a primary component of positive parent-infant
attachment.11 Parents of preterm infants often have limited interactions with their
babies during the early weeks of life, and thus are at risk for problems in the
development of secure parent-infant attachment relationships.