PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial was to determine if nurse-supported kangaroo holding of healthy preterm infants in the first 8 weeks of the infant's life facilitates early behavioral organization and development. METHODS: We randomized 87 infants born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation and their mothers to one of three holding groups: kangaroo (skin-to-skin between mother's breasts), blanket (held in mother's arms), or control (no holding restrictions). Nurse-supported groups (kangaroo and blanket) received 8 weekly visits from a registered nurse who encouraged holding and provided education about infant development. The control group received brief social visits. Mothers recorded time held in a daily diary. The Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior was administered when infants were 40 to 44 weeks postconceptional age. RESULTS:Total holding time averaged 4 to 5 hr/day and did not differ among groups. Mothers held kangaroo style an average of 59 min/day in the kangaroo group, and 5 and 9 min/day in the blanket and control groups, respectively (p < .001). Infants in the kangaroo and blanket groups had more optimal scores than the control group in Robust Crying (p = .015) indicating that they could arouse to vigorous crying and calm. Scores, except for Attention and State Regulation, were at least as high as those of full-term infants. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: When kangaroo holding is compared to blanket holding, both methods may provide equal early behavioral organization and developmental benefit to the infant.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial was to determine if nurse-supported kangaroo holding of healthy preterm infants in the first 8 weeks of the infant's life facilitates early behavioral organization and development. METHODS: We randomized 87 infants born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation and their mothers to one of three holding groups: kangaroo (skin-to-skin between mother's breasts), blanket (held in mother's arms), or control (no holding restrictions). Nurse-supported groups (kangaroo and blanket) received 8 weekly visits from a registered nurse who encouraged holding and provided education about infant development. The control group received brief social visits. Mothers recorded time held in a daily diary. The Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior was administered when infants were 40 to 44 weeks postconceptional age. RESULTS: Total holding time averaged 4 to 5 hr/day and did not differ among groups. Mothers held kangaroo style an average of 59 min/day in the kangaroo group, and 5 and 9 min/day in the blanket and control groups, respectively (p < .001). Infants in the kangaroo and blanket groups had more optimal scores than the control group in Robust Crying (p = .015) indicating that they could arouse to vigorous crying and calm. Scores, except for Attention and State Regulation, were at least as high as those of full-term infants. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: When kangaroo holding is compared to blanket holding, both methods may provide equal early behavioral organization and developmental benefit to the infant.
Authors: Heidelise Als; Frank H Duffy; Gloria B McAnulty; Michael J Rivkin; Sridhar Vajapeyam; Robert V Mulkern; Simon K Warfield; Petra S Huppi; Samantha C Butler; Nikk Conneman; Christine Fischer; Eric C Eichenwald Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Diane Holditch-Davis; Rosemary C White-Traut; Janet A Levy; T Michael O'Shea; Victoria Geraldo; Richard J David Journal: Infant Behav Dev Date: 2014-09-20
Authors: Ellen O Boundy; Roya Dastjerdi; Donna Spiegelman; Wafaie W Fawzi; Stacey A Missmer; Ellice Lieberman; Sandhya Kajeepeta; Stephen Wall; Grace J Chan Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2015-12-23 Impact factor: 7.124