Making babies real: dressing infants in the NICU.

This article presents the physiologic rationale for dressing infants in the NICU. It reports interview responses from mothers and nurses on their feelings about one infant dressing program, proposes a care plan, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of infant dressing, and suggests ideas for related research. The goals of the program described here are to provide preterm and/or sick infants with increased insulation to improve thermoregulation, personalize and normalize care, promote developmentally appropriate care, promote discharge planning, and support all families equally, regardless of socioeconomic status.