The number of newborn infants treated every year at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital (WPH) for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased over 150% since 2004. Nurses conduct the Finnegan Score every 2 hours to analyze the infant’s withdrawal symptoms and determine if pharmacologic intervention is necessary and/or effective. Up to 30% of infants may be managed without medication. Interventions for treatment of these infants include medication and supportive care.  The purpose of the program, as a unit evidence-based practice project, was to learn if the addition of baby “cuddlers” as caregivers could impact the length of stay required for treatment of these infants.

Proposed change:   

 A baby cuddler is a trained  baby holder who can fill the gaps when parents are not able to be present. The cuddler  provides an important component of the developmental care for the hospitalized infant. The importance of human contact and touch in the well being of all hospitalized infants has been well documented. Cuddlers held/rocked/comforted these infants suffering from drug withdrawal on a daily basis.

Implementation, outcomes and evaluation:  

75 infants were admitted to the department with the diagnosis of NAS in the 1 year study period from May 2009 to May 2010. Length of stay (LOS) was compared from the first 6 months without the Baby Cuddler Program to the last 6 months with the initiation of the program. From May 2009-October 2009, average LOS for infants with NAS was 26.2 days without the Cuddler program. From November 2009-May 2010, average LOS for infants with NAS was 22.4 days, a decrease in length of stay of 3.8 days. After the official evidence-based project ended, from May 2010- April 30, 2011, the pediatric unit  cared for an additional 75 NAS patients. The LOS average was 23.9 days, a decrease in length of stay of 2.3 days compared with the initial non-Cuddler group. 

Baby  Cuddlers  completed an orientation to their role and received education on handwashing and HIPPA regulations.

  From initiation of the project on October 1, 2009 to February 28, 2011, Baby Cuddlers have contributed 2,855 hours of cuddling to patients suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.  

Implications for nursing practice:

Nurses have implemented a low-cost intervention which decreases length of stay, thus impacting hospital finances, and provides quality patient care to a vulnerable population.

Keywords: baby cuddler, neonatal abstinence, lentgh of stay