The birth of an infant is a time of excitement and joy. However, when an infant is born preterm, parents often experience fear, anxiety, stress, and disappointment. Contrasting a full-term birth, the preterm infant is initially separated from the family and thrust into a medical environment, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), to sustain life. Parents are often 'visitors', and the traditional parenting role is challenged. Difficulties in caring for their infants further exacerbate their anxiety and stress, prompting coping through withdrawing or avoiding participation in care. This can have long-term effects on the infant's development and the parent-child relationship. While the preterm infant needs medical care, they also have a great developmental need for human engagement, particularly with their parents. Changing the model of care to fully engage and support parents in providing developmentally appropriate, positive sensory-based exposures within the tenuous NICU environment is possible and can result in positive benefits for both the infant and family.