What is an organized infant?

Organization is a term used to describe the establishment of integrated functioning between an infant's physiologic and behavioral systems. When these systems are well integrated, the infant is able to interact with the environment without disruptions in autonomic, motor, and state functioning. As a result, he will not experience alterations in vital signs, color, state, or digestive functions that may compromise his future growth and development. Infants who can maintain or regain physiologic and behavioral organization will conserve energy for growth, provide caregivers with clear behavioral cues that indicate their needs, facilitate the establishment of parent-infant attachment, and use self-consoling or habituating behaviors when interacting with an environment that is too stimulating. As a result, developmental outcomes can be enhanced, particularly in infants who are at risk for neurobehavioral sequelae and developmental delays. Nurses can help infants achieve and maintain organization by providing an environment that supports their physiologic and behavioral organization.