This program is delivered to premature infants, their parents, and other family members and is intended to impact premature infants.

Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), a comprehensive, family-centered intervention, is designed to reduce the possible negative impact of the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) (e.g., bright lights, frequent interruptions of sleep) and to provide a NICU environment and care system that supports early brain development. The program's long-term goal is to improve preterm-born children's development.

Many studies have been conducted that evaluate NIDCAP, including multiple randomized trials. Three of these trials demonstrated better brain structure and function for children who are 8 to 9 years old. For example, NIDCAP youth performed better than youth who had not experienced NIDCAP on some measures of executive function and visual and spatial abilities. One quasi-experimental study indicated less psychomotor delay in NIDCAP children at 2 years of age compared to those in a control group. One quasiexperimental study that examined the impact of the program on mothers found significantly lower levels of stress and anxiety in mothers in the intervention group, compared to mothers in the control group. For secondary outcomes reported on the program's website, namely reduced days in NICU and improved weight gain, outcomes are mixed; some studies show positive effects on these outcomes, and others show no significant difference between NIDCAP and non-NIDCAP infants. Results tend to vary depending upon which outcomes are assessed and may be impacted by other factors such as gestational age and mother’s smoking status during pregnancy.

NIDCAP, which is implemented by certified NIDCAP professionals, intends to adapt the NICU experience to meet the unique needs of each newborn.  The intervention begins when the infant is admitted to the NICU and includes the following:

• Offer suggestions based on neurobehavioral observations and instruct parents and staff regarding how to support the infant's development;
• Time medical procedures based on the infant's sleep-wake cycle and provide relaxation periods;
• Support and guide caregivers in understanding the infant's stress and comfort signs and in adapting care in response to those signs;
• Encourage parents to hold their infant as much as possible and cradle the infant during stressful and difficult procedures; and
• Provide supportive accessories, such as terry cloth buntings, hammocks, pillows, and special pacifiers.

NIDCAP was developed in 1984 in the United States.  Currently, there are NIDCAP training centers in the United States, Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

Preparation to implement NIDCAP occurs at the nursery-wide level, and sites are encouraged to develop a 5-year plan.  Training for individuals typically lasts 12 months and includes readings, an initial 3-day session, practice observations, and work sessions with trainers.  Please visit https://nidcap.org/professionals/supports-for-nursery-change/nidcap/#training or use details in the Contact section for more information.

Considerations for implementing NIDCAP include obtaining funding for program costs (i.e., nursery certification), allocating time for training, and recognizing that this is a comprehensive intervention that requires long-term commitment and may involve significant changes to NICU operations.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing NIDCAP, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Implementation time will vary as NIDCAP provides daily support to infants and their families while infants are in the NICU.

The Nursery Program Application and Review Process costs $29,220.  Please use details in the Contact section for additional information on implementation costs.

To move NIDCAP to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, the studies that found positive effects for brain development beyond the 2-year follow-up point need to be replicated by an independent research team.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals.  Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact NIDCAP Federation International, Inc. by mail P.O. Box 3303, Woburn, MA 01888, email info@midcap.org, or visit https://nidcap.org/about-us/contact-us/

https://nidcap.org/professionals/supports-for-nursery-change/nidcap/ and McAnulty et al. (2010)