As a NICU parent, seeing your baby connected to equipment can feel overwhelming. One of the most common forms of breathing support you may see is CPAP. If your baby is on CPAP, you are not alone - and understanding it can help ease some of the fear.

Let’s walk through what CPAP is, why it is used, and what it means for your baby.

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

CPAP provides continuous positive pressure through small nasal prongs or a mask. Your baby continues to breathe on their own while the pressure helps keep the lungs and airways open. Supplemental oxygen can be added when needed.

With standard nasal CPAP:

Your baby continues taking their own breaths
No breathing tube is placed into the windpipe
Continuous pressure helps keep the lungs open between breaths

Think of it like a small air “splint” that keeps tiny air sacs (alveoli) from collapsing between breaths.

Why do NICU babies need CPAP?

Many premature babies need extra breathing support because their lungs are still developing.

CPAP is commonly used for:

Prematurity
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
After being removed from a ventilator
Apnea of prematurity (pauses in breathing)
To help keep oxygen levels stable

Preterm lungs can collapse easily. CPAP helps prevent that collapse making breathing less tiring.

What does CPAP look like?

You may see:

Small nasal prongs sitting in your baby’s nostrils
Or a small mask that rests over the nose
A soft hat that helps keep the tubing in place
Tubing connected to a CPAP machine or ventilator
Monitors that track oxygen, heart rate and breathing
A small tube may pass through the mouth or nose into the stomach. It can be used for feedings and can also help vent air that collects in the stomach while your baby is receiving CPAP.

It can look like a lot - but each piece has a purpose.

Is CPAP painful?

CPAP is noninvasive, but the nasal prongs or mask can sometimes cause discomfort, irritation or pressure injury to the delicate skin around a baby's nose.

mild nasal irritation
skin redness
pressure areas

Your NICU team carefully checks your baby’s skin and adjusts the equipment to prevent injury.

Can I hold my baby on CPAP?

In many cases, yes. Babies receiving CPAP may still be able to have skin-to-skin contact and be held safely while respiratory support continues. Your baby's condition and NICU practices will determine when and how this can be done, so ask your nurse to help you:

Do skin-to-skin (kangaroo care)
Be gently held
Participate in care times

Holding your baby is still incredibly important for bonding and development.

How long will my baby need CPAP?

Every baby is different.

Some babies need CPAP for:

a few days
a few weeks
sometimes longer depending on their gestational age and lung maturity

As your baby's lungs mature or recover, the team will assess whether less respiratory support is needed. Depending on your baby's needs, this may involve changes in oxygen concentration, CPAP pressure, or eventually transitioning off CPAP.

What Parents Often Worry About

“Will this hurt their lungs?”

CPAP is used to support breathing while avoiding a breathing tube when possible. Like any medical treatment, it has potential risks, but the NICU team carefully adjusts the pressure and oxygen to provide the support your baby needs.

“Does this mean my baby is very sick?”

Not necessarily. Many preemies need CPAP simply because they were born early. CPAP is commonly used in NICUs for premature babies and for some term babies who need temporary breathing support.

“Will they have long-term breathing problems?”

Whether a baby has longer-term respiratory problems depends more on why they needed breathing support, their gestational age and their underlying lung or medical condition than on CPAP alone.

What do the CPAP numbers mean?

You may hear your baby's nurse or provider say something like:

“CPAP of 6 with 25% oxygen.”

These numbers describe two different parts of your baby's respiratory support.

CPAP pressure tells you how much continuous pressure is being used to help keep the lungs open. It is usually measured in centimeters of water pressure (cm H₂O).

FiO₂ tells you the concentration of oxygen your baby is receiving. Room air contains about 21% oxygen, so an FiO₂ of 25% means your baby is receiving slightly more oxygen than room air. 21% oxygen is what we breath.

The NICU team adjusts pressure and oxygen separately based on your baby's breathing, oxygen saturation, blood gases when needed, and overall clinical condition.

Don't worry about comparing your baby's numbers with another baby's. The right settings are the ones appropriate for your baby's individual needs.

Questions You Can Ask Your NICU Team

What CPAP setting is my baby on?
How much oxygen are they receiving?
What signs show they are ready to wean?
Can I participate in care while my baby is on CPAP?

Knowledge builds confidence. And confident parents feel less helpless.

A Gentle Reminder for Parents

If your baby is on CPAP right now, here is what matters:

Your baby is breathing.
Your baby is growing.
And CPAP is giving their lungs support while they mature or recover.

The equipment can look frightening, but it isn't a barrier between you and your baby. Ask how you can safely touch, hold, talk to and participate in your baby's care.

Sources & Clinical References

American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Respiratory Support in Preterm Infants at Birth. In: Neonatal Care: A Compendium of AAP Clinical Practice Guidelines and Policies. AAP.
Mahmoud RA, Roehr CC, Schmalisch G. Approaches to Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Preterm Infants: From CPAP to NAVA. NeoReviews. 2019;20(4):e213–e221.
World Health Organization. Kangaroo Mother Care: A Clinical Practice Guide. 2025. This is especially useful for your holding/skin-to-skin section.
World Health Organization. Recommendations for Care of the Preterm or Low-Birth-Weight Infant / newborn-care recommendations. WHO identifies CPAP as an intervention for newborn respiratory distress.

CPAP is one of the most common forms of breathing support I’ve worked with in the NICU, but it’s not always clearly explained to parents.
Seeing your baby connected to breathing support can feel intimidating at first.
Understanding how it works and why it’s used can make the situation feel more manageable.
If you’re early in your NICU experience, the First 7 Days Su r vival Guide can help you understand what to expect during these first stages of care.

Jeri Power, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC

A note about this resource: Bright Sprout provides educational and supportive information for NICU families. This content is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your baby’s healthcare team. Every baby and NICU journey is different. If you have questions or concerns about your baby’s health or care, please talk with your NICU team.

What Is CPAP in the NICU? A Simple Guide for Parents