Developmental Observer  •  2021  •  3  

Background

The emphasis of newborn intensive care focuses on the physical 
care of the baby. The benefit of developmental care remains 
secondary, and the parents are often not integrated in the 
planning, education, decision-making, clinical implementation, 
and evaluation of their baby’s care. However, developmental 
family centered care is evolving as an essential component 
of practice for newborns and their families who experience 
intensive care. Developmental practice currently lacks evidence 
based standardization and prioritization in order to affect 
collaborative practice standardization and ultimate outcomes. 
Consequently, education, communication and policies are 
inconsistent, and the transition of families to home is wrought 
with discontinuity. 

Objective

A large body of research supportive of family centered devel-
opmental care practices and the resulting positive outcomes 
for infants and families has emerged. Examination of existing 
research and practices resulting in interprofessional standards, 
competencies and best practices is warranted. 

Study Design

An interprofessional committee of experts and parents utilized a 
systematic review process to evaluate the quality and strength of 
credible evidence. The concept of infant and family centered devel-
opmental care was described, practice components were identified, 
and evidence based standards and competencies were articulated 
using a process of consensus approval.

Results

The Recommended Best Practices and Competencies for Infant and 
Family Centered Developmental Care (IFCDC) are the result 
of the consensus process, and are published (https://nicudesign.
nd.edu/nicu-care-standards/). The components of IFCDC include: 
systems thinking, positioning and touch, sleep and arousal, 
skin-to-skin contact, reduction of pain and stress for infants and 
families, and feeding.

Implications for NIDCAP

The IFCDC document will assist in the provision of evidence for 
the on-going practices in newborn contexts within the NIDCAP 
model. An implementation strategy is required to enable compe-
tencies and best practices to be evaluated within each NIDCAP 
Training Center. 

Conclusion

The successful utilization of IFCDC evidence based standards 
can integrate the family with the interprofessional team, 
standardize practice, improve outcome and complement 
NIDCAP implementation.

References:

1. Browne JV and the Consensus Committee on Infant Family Centered Developmental Care. 
Executive Summary: Standards, Competencies and Best Practices for Infant and Family 
Centered Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Journal Perinatol, 2020 Sep;40(Suppl 1):5-10. doi: 
10.1038/s41372-020-0767-1.

2. Consensus Committee on Infant Family Centered Developmental Care. Report of the First 
Consensus Conference on Standards, Competencies and Best Practices for Infant and Family 
Centered Care in the Intensive Care Unit. February 2020. https://nicudesign.nd.edu/nicu-care-
standards/

3. Consensus Committee on Infant Family Centered Developmental Care. Workshop: 
Recommended Standards, Competencies and Best Practices for Infant and Family Centered 
Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Gravens Conference on the Environment of Care for High 
Risk Newborns, Clearwater Beach, FL. March 4-7, 2020.

4. Consensus Committee on Infant Family Centered Developmental Care. Workshop: 
Recommended Standards, Competencies and Best Practices for Infant and Family Centered 
Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Gravens Conference on the Environment of Care for High 
Risk Newborns, Clearwater Beach, FL. March 6-9, 2019.

5. Consensus Committee on Infant Family Centered Developmental Care. Workshop: 
Recommended Standards, Competencies and Best Practices for Infant and Family Centered 
Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Gravens Conference on the Environment of Care for High 
Risk Newborns, Clearwater Beach, FL. February 28 - March 3, 2018.

6. Consensus Committee on Infant Family Centered Developmental Care. Workshop: 
Recommended Standards, Competencies and Best Practices for Infant and Family Centered 
Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Gravens Conference on the Environment of Care for High 
Risk Newborns, Clearwater Beach, FL. March 1-4, 2017.

Recommended Standards, Competencies and Best Practices  
for Infant and Family Centered Developmental Care in the 
Intensive Care Unit
Browne J, Jaeger C, Spence K, Tyebkhan J, and the Gravens Consensus Panel DOI: 10.14434/do.v14i1.31809

Letter to the Editor

I can't thank you enough for giving me and Cyprus 
a place in the Developmental Observer. This article 
empowers all of us on the island who are working 
constantly to implement family centre care.

I also need to congratulate you as this issue has 
so much interesting and useful information on so 
many levels. It is definitely worth reading!

Pani Pantelides PT
NIDCAP Professional

Consultant Neonatal Physiotherapist and  
Early Intervention Specialist

Nicosia, Cyprus