Early human development
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Early human development · Mar 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of holding on co-regulation in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.
To determine whether kangaroo holding of healthy preterm infants over the first eight weeks of an infant's life facilitates co-regulation of salivary cortisol between mother and infant. ⋯ Decreasing level of cortisol in both mothers and infants suggests that holding promoted the expected decline in stress hormone levels. However, supported holding methods did not differentially affect co-regulation compared to controls. Holding is pleasurable and stress may need to be present in order for mothers and infants to demonstrate co-regulation in cortisol levels.