Babies born before 37 weeks gestation:
• Lack muscle strength:muscle: to control movements so 
• are prone to muscle imbalance so⬇
• Early motor development may be affected.
The ‘Frog Leg Position’, “W” arm position:
• Gravity causes weak arms and legs to flop out to sides
• Leads to muscle imbalance
• Tendency for babies to feel unsafe and stressed⬇
• 
Extended position can lead to abnormal tone and delay in motor development.
A flexed position maintained most of the time in utero supports infants’ self-soothing abilities such as bringing the hand to the mouth, Sucking on the fist/thumb/fingers, Bracing leg(s), Moving to a flexed posture, Crossing arms/legs…
To provide similar opportunities for preterm infants, special attention in nursing care needs to be paid to supporting a flexed position in a preterm infant both during rest and during handling.
So Comes the nest:
The nests provide the security and boundaries for premature babies 
that are missing when they are born early.
Being born so early leaves the babies vulnerable to external stimuli that can impact on their development.
The nests help to prevent flailing and they are used to mimic the safety of the womb and to support development.
nests provide the preterm infant:hatched_chick: with boundaries (similar to that in the womb)
so that the infant has a surface to touch and brace against.
They provide the optimum environment to contain and support the position of the baby, helping to facilitate normal physical development.
The NICU nurse will make the bedding into a nest:hatching_chick: for the infant.
How To Creat A Nest:question:
Create a ‘nest’ using rolled nappies or blankets (depending on the size of the baby) in a ‘U’ shape to provide boundaries to push against and minimise the effects of gravity.
Cover rolled nappy or blanket with a wrap, flattening the top of the ‘U’ shape and emphasising the curve by conforming the wrap around the curve.
• Place baby wholly within nest or place baby’s bottom against curve with legs flexed over the end.
Ensure shoulders are protracted and supported by the nest.
Use a narrow sheet as a seat belt over hips to further contain baby in the nest, with legs flexed.
Alternate and/or incorporate supine, lateral, prone and sitting positions at care times.
The nest needs to be deep enough to keep the legs inside as the infant stretches, pressing feet against the walls and helping the infant to tuck his legs up again as he relaxes.
The sides of the nest need to be close enough around the legs to prevent them spreading out at the knees or hips and to make it possible for the baby to rest one foot against the other leg or foot.
The containment of monitored babies in incubators should be by the use of a ‘nest’.
This provides a boundary for containment and promotes a flexed posture.
The nest:hatching_chick: is our way of replicating the position of a baby in utero. 
Swaddling:
Once babies are in cots they should be swaddled with their upper and lower limbs flexed and their hands to their mouth.
•Position hands together near face
• Feet together
• Use positioning aids to provide a safe snug and supportive nest.