ABSTRACT
The term ‘developmental care’ is used to describe those interventions which support and facilitate the stabilisation, recovery and development of infants and families undergoing intensive care, and beyond, in an effort to promote optimal outcome. The theoretical basis for our current understanding begins with the wide body of evidence that demonstrates that low birth weight (LBW) infants are at increased risk of medical complications, growth deficits, neurological impairment and a range of more subtle cognitive and behavioural difficulties (Fasting 1995; Hack et al. 1995; Powls et al. 1996; Tin et al. 1997). Whilst the incidence of major handicap is reducing and the survival of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is steadily improving, there remains an urgent need to explore strategies which have the potential to ameliorate the side-effects of treatments necessary for life support.
