Which statement about rooming-in is most accurate regarding its impact on parent confidence?

Which statement about rooming-in is most accurate regarding its impact on parent confidence?

• A. It decreases confidence in handling the baby before discharge.
• B. It has no impact on confidence.
• C. It increases confidence in handling the baby before discharge.
• D. It delays learning to feed the baby.

Answer: (C)

Gaining confidence in caregiving comes from hands-on experience and real-time guidance. Rooming-in puts the newborn and parents together on the unit, so parents handle feeding, soothing, diapering, and safety routines with immediate support from nurses and lactation consultants. This direct participation helps parents recognize infant cues, respond appropriately, and establish routines, all of which build competence and self-assurance before discharge. Because parents practice care with feedback in a familiar setting, they feel more capable when they head home. So the statement that rooming-in increases confidence in handling the baby before discharge is the best fit. It also tends to speed up learning—parents gain skills more quickly through practice rather than waiting for separate cuddle time with the baby.