Summary of Recommendations for Practice and Research.

What we know:	Scientific evidence suggests that skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is a stress-reducing intervention for both neonates and parents. Data suggest that preterm infants in the United States receive less than 1 hour of SSC per day during their hospital stay. Parent–infant separation contributes to increased stress for the dyad that has been shown to have significant negative health outcomes for both neonates and their mothers.
What needs to be studied:	Determination of the optimal biomarker(s) to use to evaluate the effects of SSC on physiologic responses to stress. Investigation of the effects of SSC in the intensive care environment on the infant's structural brain development, stress reactivity, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Longitudinal evaluation of biobehavioral outcomes as well as biomarkers of stress and their influence on dyadic engagement over time.
What we can do today:	Continue to encourage clinicians to use SSC as an important therapeutic intervention for both parents and infants.