Infant physiologic and behavioral organization during swaddled versus unswaddled weighing

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of blanket swaddling during weighing on the physiologic and behavioral responses of preterm infants.

Study design: A repeated-measures crossover design was used in a children's hospital intensive care nursery setting. Fourteen preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 32 weeks and mean weight of 1427 gm were weighed on two consecutive nights. A random start approach was used to determine initial order of swaddled or unswaddled weights. Effects of swaddled and unswaddled weighing were examined with use of the Assessment of Behavioral Systems Organization scales. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for analysis.

Results: Contrasts done on significant treatment-period interactions indicated that when swaddled, infants showed less physiologic distress (p < 0.002), better motor organization (p < 0.001), and more effective self-regulatory ability (p < 0.037) than when unswaddled during weighing.

Conclusions: Swaddled weighing may decrease physiologic and behavioral distress in preterm infants.