Baby and Family-Centered Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Changing Perspective

Abstract

The goal of baby and family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is to recognize the baby's needs exhibited through the baby's individual behavior and communication and support parent education, engagement, and interaction with the baby to build a nurturing relationship. Health care providers and caregivers must guide rather than control the role of the parents from birth through NICU care, transition to home, and continuing care at home. Parents are health care team members, primary caregivers, and shared decision-makers in caring for their babies.

Keywords: Developmental care; Epigenetics; Infant and family-centered care; Mother and baby closeness; NICU; Neurodevelopment; Systems thinking.