Self-regulation of stimulation by premature infants.

Premature babies are capable of seeking contact with a source of rhythmic stimulation that reflects their own breathing rhythm. Optional stimulation, in the form of a "breathing" stuffed bear, was made available to premature infants, 32 to 35 weeks' gestational age. The bear's breathing rate was matched to that of each individual infant during quiet sleep. Other infants were exposed to a bear that did not breathe, and some infants were not exposed to a bear. All infants were monitored continuously using time-lapse video. After 2 to 3 weeks' exposure, those infants with a breathing bear showed significantly more contact with their head, body, or limbs than either of the control groups (for the no-bear group, contact with the area that would have been occupied by the bear was determined to describe the contact that might have been expected by chance). In addition, the infants given the opportunity to self-regulate their stimulation showed greater amounts of quiet sleep than the other two groups.