Published Oct 26, 2026 4:08 PM EDT For infants struggling in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU, incubators dramatically lower premature infant mortality. However, these neonatal-specific incubators create their own challenges for skin-to-skin contact. This kind of touch is more than an emotional moment for a family—it helps regulate the baby’s body temperature, stimulates their immune system, encourages breastfeeding, and even reduces issues of postpartum depression.