Circadian light cycle better than darkness for preterm infants. (Pregnancy & Birth).

The February 2002 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics reports on a study that sheds new light on the best environment for preterm infants. It debunks the myth that living in near darkness is best. In this randomized, interventional study involving sixty-two preterm infants, those receiving cycled light at birth and thirty-two weeks' postconceptional age (PCA) gained weight faster than infants not receiving cycled light until thirty-six weeks PCA.

"Cycled light has significant weight gain benefits over near darkness, and there are no short-term advantages of near darkness over cycled light for health in preterm infants," write Debra H. Brandon, RN, PHD, and colleagues from Duke University School of Nursing in Durham, North Carolina.

Near darkness was believed to replicate the intrauterine environment. This system avoids continuous bright light, which is known to decrease sleep and increase stress.

Although treatment groups were similar in length of hospitalization stay and number of ventilator days, the study sample may have been too small to detect significant differences in these variables.

"Future studies should evaluate further the best time to introduce cycled light to preterm infants to maximize physical growth and visual and auditory development," the authors write.

--Journal of Pediatrics, 2002