Forty very-low-birth-weight neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infant
s with birth weights less than or equal to 1,250 g were randomly assig
ned to treatment or control groups. Behavior of the treatment infants
was systematically evaluated, and individualized developmentally orien
ted care plans were implemented to enhance stability. Treatment babies
required fewer days of intermittent mandatory ventilation and continu
ous positive airway pressure and achieved full enteral feedings sooner
, Length of hospital stay and hospital charges were less for treatment
than control infants. There were favorable effects on treatment infan
ts' behavioral performance at 42 weeks' postconceptional age. These re
sults support the hypothesis that behaviorally sensitive, developmenta
lly oriented care improves medical and neurodevelopmental outcome in t
he NICU.