What is an essential component of family-centered care in a NICU setting?

Encouraging parental newborn care activities is a fundamental aspect of family-centered care in a NICU setting. This approach recognizes the important role that families play in the care of their infants, especially in a challenging environment like the NICU. When parents are actively involved in their newborn's care, it fosters bonding and enhances the emotional well-being of both the parents and the infant.

Participating in care activities, such as holding, feeding, and bathing their baby, empowers parents and encourages them to take an active role in their infant's health journey. It also allows parents to develop skills in caring for their child, which can ease their transition to home once the baby is discharged. In this context, the NICU staff supports and educates parents, creating a partnership that promotes the best outcomes for the infant and the family unit as a whole.

Enhancing parental involvement in care not only helps in meeting the emotional needs of the family but also can have positive effects on the infant’s growth and development, making it a core principle of family-centered care in neonatal settings.