In this August 2013 photo provided by the family, Erica Steadman checks on her daughter, Evelyn, in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital shortly after the baby's birth. 

Evelyn was born with brain damage due to a virus known as Cytomegalovirus. While in the hospital, she was held and cuddled by many family members in addition to volunteers. 

Research shows that cuddling helps calm the babies, many who are born prematurely or who have serious health issues, and aids in their early development. Steadman says she has little doubt Evelyn benefited from the extra cuddling. 

Nurse Jennell Davis checks on an infant in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014. 

Davis says she's very appreciative of volunteers who come to cuddle the infants during her busy night shifts. 

Evelyn Steadman cries after her mother, Erica Steadman, left, puts in the baby's hearing aids while grandmother, Kathleen Jones, holds her at the baby's home in Crete, Ill., March 5, 2014. 

Jones, 52, is a longtime volunteer who cuddles newborn babies in the NICU at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital. 

In August 2013 after Evelyn was born with brain damage due to a virus, she ended up in Comer's NICU and, in addition to many family members, ended up being cuddled by volunteers, too. 

Volunteer Luis Granja uses a doll to practice swaddling an infant while fellow volunteers, Gertie Rogers, background left, and Kathleen Jones, background right, watch at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, Feb. 19, 2014. 

About 20 people attended an orientation for volunteers who cuddle babies in the NICU. 

Research shows that cuddling helps calm the babies, many who are born prematurely or who have serious health issues, and aids in their early development.