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Effect of night and day on preterm infants in a newborn nursery: randomised trial
Insights
Alternating night and day cycles in nurseries improve preterm infant sleep, feeding, and weight gain. This controlled trial shows long-term benefits for infant development and health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Environmental influences on infant health
Background:
- Preterm infants often experience disrupted sleep-wake cycles in hospital environments.
- The impact of controlled light and noise cycles on neonatal development requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effect of alternating night and day on sleep, feeding, and weight gain in healthy preterm infants.
- To determine if a controlled nursery environment benefits preterm infant outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 41 healthy preterm infants.
- Comparison between a 'night and day' nursery (reduced light/noise 7 pm-7 am) and a control nursery.
- Assessment of sleep, feeding patterns, and weight gain post-discharge.
Main Results:
- Infants in the 'night and day' nursery slept longer, fed less, and gained more weight.
- Significant differences in weight gain were observed, with infants being 0.5 kg heavier at three months corrected age.
- Benefits became apparent after discharge and persisted long-term.
Conclusions:
- The physical environment, specifically exposure to natural night and day cycles, significantly impacts preterm infant behavior and development.
- Implementing controlled light and noise environments in neonatal care settings is beneficial for preterm infants.
- Environmental factors play a crucial role in the long-term health trajectory of preterm infants.
Abstract:
The effect of alternating night and day on sleep, feeding, and weight gain in 41 healthy preterm infants was examined in a randomised controlled trial. Twenty infants from a night and day nursery, where the intensity of light and noise was reduced between 7 pm and 7 am, spent longer sleeping and less time feeding and gained more weight than 21 infants from a control nursery, where the intensity of light and noise was not reduced. Differences were significant and became apparent only after discharge home; they were still present three months after the expected date of delivery, when infants from the night and day nursery were an average of 0.5 kg heavier (p less than 0.02). These findings suggest that physical environment has an effect (either direct or indirect) on the subsequent behaviour of preterm infants and that exposure to night and day is beneficial.