The importance of neonatal sleep care in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Fetus and neonate spend most of its time in sleep in both womb and environment. Sleep is considered as essential and vital part of human functions as respiration and nutrition. It also plays a key role in brain development. In recent studies predominant role of sleep in body temperature regulation، energy saving، neuronal detoxifications have been proved. As a matter of fact، major behavior seen in neonate’s especially immature ones is Sleep. Designed tools to monitor behavior have made it possible to detect the most important part of neonate called as quiet and active phase of sleep. Of all the disturbing factors in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)، we can identify nuisance and light pollution as well as invasive care methods that are hypothesized to leave negative impact on brain development through disturbing sleep process. Developmental care has been added as a supplementary part of health care in NICUs to help better protect against potential sleep disturbing factors and its consequent results. Nurses in neonates ward dedicate major part of their time in providing care services in NICUs and thus play an important role in sustaining a suitable environment for neonates’ sleep.