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FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

The 'Fourth Trimester': An Evidence-Based Guide to Soothing the Newborn Nervous System

Understand the concept of the Fourth Trimester and learn evidence-based techniques to soothe your newborn's developing nervous system.

Illustration for The 'Fourth Trimester': An Evidence-Based Guide to Soothing the Newborn Nervous System

Understanding the Transition

The first few months of life, sometimes referred to as the fourth trimester, involve a significant transition for a newborn. The environment outside the womb is quite different, and babies may need time to adjust.

Comforting Practices

Gentle, consistent routines may help soothe a newborn as they adapt to their new surroundings.

  • Gentle rocking or swaying can be associated with a sense of calm.
  • Swaddling, when done safely, may provide comfort.
  • Skin-to-skin contact is often encouraged to support bonding and relaxation.

The evidence base for this topic

7 peer-reviewed sources, each verified against its PubMed record and labelled by study type. These are the literature this topic rests on rather than a citation for every individual sentence — see how we source.

  1. Meta-analysis of the Impact of Kangaroo Care on Physical Growth and Neurobehavioral Development in Premature Infants

    Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses · 2025 · Meta-Analysis · PMID 40085958

  2. Skin-to-skin contact after birth: Developing a research and practice guideline

    Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) · 2023 · Systematic Review · PMID 37166443

  3. Non-pharmacological management of infant and young child procedural pain

    The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023 · Systematic Review · PMID 37314064

  4. The effect of kangaroo mother care or skin-to-skin contact on infant vital signs: A systematic review and meta-analysis

    Midwifery · 2023 · Meta-Analysis · PMID 37454580

  5. Parent-Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact and Stress Regulation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

    International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021 · Systematic Review · PMID 33924970

  6. Systematic Review of Skin-to-Skin Care for Full-Term, Healthy Newborns

    Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN · 2017 · Systematic Review · PMID 28950108

  7. Swaddling and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Meta-analysis

    Pediatrics · 2016 · Meta-Analysis · PMID 27244847