Finger puppets could boost preterm infant development, study hopes

NCT ID NCT06335524

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether teaching parents of preterm infants to use finger puppets during play can improve their baby's development. 188 preterm babies born before 34 weeks will be split into two groups: one gets standard care plus finger puppet training, the other gets standard care alone. Researchers will measure developmental progress at 12 months using a standard questionnaire.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
finger puppet training
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that simple parent-led play with finger puppets improves developmental scores in preterm infants, offering a low-cost early intervention.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage behavioral study. The effect may be small or not clinically meaningful, and results may not apply to all preterm infants.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Infant, Premature, Diseases

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    RECRUITING

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35249, United States

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