This would include not talking or trying to make eye contact if the baby shows signs of stress, and keeping general noise levels low. Touch Handling is touching. The sense of touch develops very early in fetal life. For very small preemies, the skin is so fragile that touching has to be done with great care. For older preemies, however, gentle touching can be helpful.
Preemies react in different ways to different kinds of touch.
A light, feathery touch may be upsetting. A firm, steady touch is more likely to calm the baby. Giving the stable preemie gentle human touch or massage for a short period every day has been shown to be helpful, for example, it may help babies gain weight faster.