The benefits of cuddling babies

Martha Irvine/AP

An infant grasps volunteer Kathleen Jones' hand in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago, Feb. 19, 2014.

Jones, 52, is one of several people who volunteer to cuddle babies at the hospital. Research shows that cuddling helps calm the babies, many who are born prematurely or who have serious health issues, and aids in their early development.

Chicago

Steadman Family/AP

In this August 2013 photo provided by the family, Erica Steadman checks on her daughter, Evelyn, in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital shortly after the baby's birth.

Evelyn was born with brain damage due to a virus known as Cytomegalovirus. While in the hospital, she was held and cuddled by many family members in addition to volunteers.

Research shows that cuddling helps calm the babies, many who are born prematurely or who have serious health issues, and aids in their early development. Steadman says she has little doubt Evelyn benefited from the extra cuddling.

Chicago

Family photo/AP

In this 2013 photo provided by her family, Evelyn Steadman sleeps in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital shortly after her birth in August 2013.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

Nurse Jennell Davis checks on an infant in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014.

Davis says she's very appreciative of volunteers who come to cuddle the infants during her busy night shifts.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

Hospital volunteer Gertie Rogers, 84, places a newborn baby back into a bed in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014.

Rogers was one of about 20 people who attended an orientation for volunteers who cuddle babies in the NICU.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

Evelyn Steadman cries after her mother, Erica Steadman, left, puts in the baby's hearing aids while grandmother, Kathleen Jones, holds her at the baby's home in Crete, Ill., March 5, 2014.

Jones, 52, is a longtime volunteer who cuddles newborn babies in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital.

In August 2013 after Evelyn was born with brain damage due to a virus, she ended up in Comer's NICU and, in addition to many family members, ended up being cuddled by volunteers, too.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

Kathleen Jones sits and cuddles an infant in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

Evelyn Steadman, 7-months old, sleeps on the chest of her grandmother, Kathleen Jones, at the baby's home in Crete, Ill., March 5, 2014.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

An infant grasps volunteer Kathleen Jones' hand in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014.

Chicago

Martha Irvine/AP

Volunteer Luis Granja uses a doll to practice swaddling an infant while fellow volunteers, Gertie Rogers, background left, and Kathleen Jones, background right, watch at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014.

About 20 people attended an orientation for volunteers who cuddle babies in the NICU.

Research shows that cuddling helps calm the babies, many who are born prematurely or who have serious health issues, and aids in their early development.