What kind of therapy involves interaction that fosters parental attachment in the NICU?

Kangaroo care is a therapeutic approach that involves skin-to-skin contact between the parent and the newborn, typically the mother holding the baby against her chest. This method is particularly significant in the NICU setting as it has been shown to promote bonding and attachment between parents and their infants, especially in premature and critically ill newborns. By engaging in kangaroo care, parents not only provide warmth and comfort to their infants but also stabilize the baby’s heart rate, improve oxygen saturation levels, and foster emotional connections.

This therapy is based on the principle that physical closeness and interaction help reduce stress for both the infant and the parents, enhancing the emotional bond that is crucial for the baby’s development. Other therapies such as speech, music, and occupational therapies serve different purposes and do not primarily focus on fostering that immediate parent-infant attachment in the same way kangaroo care does.