Consistent caretakers in the premature nursery.

Consistent caretakers for premature neonates in the nursery become involved emotionally with them during their lengthy stay. This is apparent in the mourning reaction they have when the infants are discharged. This should augur well for the infants since the caretakers offer many modes of stimulation necessary to the infants' optimal development. If there is deficient caretakers' involvement, it may contribute to a lag in development or emotional difficulties in the infants. These data suggest that a positive involvement by consistent caretakers may be a decisive contribution to developmental progress in premature infants.