5th Edition of World Nursing Research Conference 2026

Abstract

Background: 
Daily bathing is a critical component of clinical care for preterm infants; however, the process frequently triggers stress behaviors such as crying and agitation. Early exposure to stress may exert long-term negative impacts on brain development and the nervous system, potentially leading to behavioral, motor, and cognitive impairments. Literature suggests that swaddled bathing is superior to conventional bathing in maintaining body temperature and reducing crying duration. Nevertheless, given the heterogeneity and quality limitations of existing empirical studies, more rigorous designs are required to further validate its benefits.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate whether swaddled bathing intervention effectively reduces stress-related behavioral responses and shortens crying duration in preterm infants during bathing.Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed, enrolling 30 preterm infants (gestational age between 32 and 36 weeks) who met the inclusion criteria. Participants were assigned to either the experimental group (swaddled bathing) or the control group (routine bathing). Through video observation, researchers compared crying duration and behavioral stress responses between the two methods. Crying duration was defined as the total time from initial contact with water until the infant was removed from the water. The total frequency of behavioral stress responses was also recorded.
Results: 
A total of 30 preterm infants were included (17 in the routine bathing group; 13 in the swaddled bathing group). The mean crying duration across all infants was 40.63±46.16 seconds. Inter-group comparison using the Mann-Whitney U test revealed a statistically significant difference in crying duration. The mean rank of the swaddled bathing group (11.62) was significantly lower than that of the routine bathing group (18.47) (Z = -2.120, p = 0.034). Regarding stress behaviors, the routine group showed a significantly higher mean frequency (43.35±14.85) compared to the swaddled group (17.92±7.34). Due to unequal variances, an adjusted Independent-Samples T-test was performed, showing a highly significant difference (t = 6.15, p < .001). These findings confirm that swaddled bathing significantly reduces stress behaviors and shortens crying time.
Conclusion: 
The results of this quasi-experimental study demonstrate that swaddled bathing is superior to conventional bathing in reducing crying duration in preterm infants. It is recommended that healthcare institutions integrate swaddled bathing into standard clinical protocols to enhance the quality of neonatal care and mitigate potential developmental stress and risks.