Interventions to decrease stress in the drug exposed infant

 

• ¨      Decrease lights and noise in room, including TV/radio.

 

• ¨      Wrap the baby snugly with hands midline.  This helps to overcome extensor tone.

 

• ¨      Always place baby on back or side to sleep---never on tummy.

 

• ¨      Hold the baby’s hands midline over the baby’s chest with one of your hands, exerting a secure feeling.

 

• ¨      Try rocking with baby held vertically.  This is often more successful than horizontal rocking.

 

• ¨      Frequent warm water baths help calm them.

 

• ¨      If baby is gaze averting seemingly over stimulated by simple eye contact with you, sit the baby on your lap, snugly wrapped, facing away from you.

 

• ¨      Do not use walkers with these infants.  Walkers increase predisposition to weight bear on toes.

 

• ¨      Protect the baby’s knees from irritation during periods of frantic fussiness.

 

• ¨      Use a pacifier to help with their non-nutritive sucking needs.