Alleviating stress in newborn infants in the intensive care unit

Potentially stressful features of the neonatal intensive care environment, including factors such as continuous high-intensity noise and bright light, have generated concern. Some neonatal researchers have speculated that the intensive care nursery constitutes a source of sensory deprivation, whereas others have suggested that the preterm infant is overstimulated or experiences an inappropriate pattern, rather than an excessive amount, of stimulation. This article examines some of the sources of stress in the neonatal intensive care unit.