Introduction: Preterm infants belong to the most vulnerable groups of newborns, as their organ immaturity requires comprehensive medical care. In Slovenia, the tertiary centers at the University Medical Centre (UMC) Ljubljana and UMC Maribor are the key institutions for their treatment, where various approaches are applied, including strategies aimed at parental involvement. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the clinical practice of preterm infant care in UMC Ljubljana and UMC Maribor and to determine the extent to which developmental care methods (kangaroo care, music therapy, reading, rooming-in) are used and how parents are involved in the care process. Methods: A quantitative research approach was applied. Data were collected using an anonymous online questionnaire, completed by 18 healthcare professionals. The questionnaire included demographic data, care protocols, use of developmental care practices, parental involvement, and transport procedures. Data were analyzed using the 1KA program and presented in tables and figures. Results: The results showed that parents are mostly involved in basic care activities, such as kangaroo care (100%) and rooming-in, while they are less often included in developmental care practices, such as music therapy (25%) and reading (29%). Differences between UMC Ljubljana and UMC Maribor were not pronounced, although some practices were somewhat more frequent in Ljubljana. Parental presence during transport was also more often enabled in Ljubljana. Discussion and conclusion: The findings indicate that both centers follow modern international guidelines; however, there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of greater and more systematic parental involvement and wider use of developmental care practices.
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