What positioning strategy can help a preterm infant prevent fatigue?

Minimizing handling and prolonged crying is a beneficial strategy for preventing fatigue in preterm infants. Preterm infants often have underdeveloped nervous systems and may easily become overstimulated by handling. Excessive handling can lead to stress and fatigue, which can be detrimental to their development, especially for those still adjusting to the external environment postnatally.

By limiting handling and allowing the infant to rest without excessive stimulation, it provides an opportunity for them to conserve energy and focus on critical functions such as feeding, growing, and stable physiological responses. Crying, especially when it becomes prolonged, can be a sign of stress and may lead to further fatigue, so minimizing these scenarios supports the well-being and recovery of preterm infants.

Other approaches like frequent handling may seem comforting but can overwhelm a delicate preterm infant, and frequent feedings every hour could disrupt their ability to rest adequately. Keeping the infant in a dark room may help with overstimulation, but it does not specifically address fatigue caused by too much handling or crying.