Gift Ideas for NICU Parents
Suggested Gifts for the NICU Parent
For family, friends and colleagues who want to get the NICU parents something, choosing a helpful and meaningful gift for the NICU Parent can be a bit challenging.
Many of the typical baby gifts one would normally get for new parents or a new baby, do not work well when the baby is spending time in the NICU instead of going home. Other gifts, like the gift of time and presence can be very helpful for the NICU parent in coping with a NICU admission.
Getting a gift for NICU parents is still important, since their dreams of bringing home a beautiful baby soon after delivery have been postponed and are now living with the reality of a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit.
This lens offers many suggestions for gifts that are both useful and helpful for helping NICU Parents make it through their NICU experience.
For those interested in buying something for the NICU baby, there is an accompanying lens on Gifts for NICU Babies that has specific gifts just for NICU babies.
Pink Gift Box and Sanja Gjenero's Blue Bag both Royalty Free Use, with NICU Parent Support Site Hand and Microsoft pacifier.
Gift Ideas for NICU Parents
These gift ideas for NICU parents have been compiled from several different sources on the Internet (listed under the links in the next section).
Some of these gifts cost money, others are just the gift of your time.
The gift ideas for NICU parents have been divided into gifts of presence, gifts that are practical and gifts that are presents.
Plastic Flowers by Clarita. Morgue File License.
Gifts of Presence, Practical Suggestions and Presents
- Presence
- Keeping the NICU Parents in one's thoughts and prayers.
- Being a sympathetic ear and listening to the NICU Parents story or a strong shoulder to cry upon.
- Helping to run errands and maintaining the house while they are in the NICU.
- Practical
- Giving meals or gift cards for meals.
- Sending snacks that can be taken into the NICU. (Often energy dense foods like trail mix).
- Giving money or tickets to cover parking fees.
- Helping set up a CarePages or Caring Bridge website for updates.
- Presents
- Giving them a journal to write down their experiences.
- Sending hand cream to help hands that are washed many times to keep from chapping.
- Giving or loaning a camera so they can take pictures (and money if needed to help with developing the pictures.
- Finding a helpful book for the parents about the NICU, or one that they can read to their NICU baby.
- Giving something that will help them to unwind, like a massage or ingredients for a soothing bath.
- Giving silk flowers instead of fresh flowers, since they will last longer.
My Favorite Gifts for NICU Parents
A collection of gift ideas that will help the NICU parent during their time in the intensive care unit.
Suggestions of Gifts for NICU Parents
- NICU gift ideas? at StorkNet's NICU Support Cubby
In honor of my son's upcoming first birthday, I would like to make a donation to the NICU at the hospital where he was born. I was thinking, instead of regular birthday presents, of asking on the invitations to his party for some small item we can do - Share Home - Baskets for NICU Parents
I am putting together baskets for NICU parents (not the kids...the parents) and SHARE PoPs popped into my mind when I thought about what should be put into these welcome baskets. - NICU Baby and gifts for parents - Bargain Hunters - BabyCenter
My husbands cousian just delivered a little boy at 23 weeks last night. he is in Nicu at childrens hosp. She never had a baby shower or anything. We come from a big family and I would like to get things together for her once mom gets out of hospt. An - Gifts for NICU Babies: Best Gifts for Premature Babies in the NICU
Choosing a gift for a NICU baby can be delicate. Since the baby's birth was premature and he or she is remaining in the NICU, it isn't the straightforward joyous time most births are. You might be concerned about giving a gift that is insensitive, or - NICU gift bags | Brisbane Premmies
Coinciding with the second anniversary of the day of her birth Miss E has decided to celebrate being two. Part of the planned celebrations is a trip to the NICU where she spent the first five months of her life. You see she's decided to celebrate by - Top Gifts for NICU Mom's, Dad's and Babies
Gift suggestions for the best gifts to give new NICU mom's, dad's and babies from Inspire.com Preemie Support group.
Gift of Time and Presence
Perhaps the two most important things you can do to support the NICU Parents as a family member or friend are to give them the gift of time by listening to their story and giving them the gift of your presence to just be.
Listening
Gifting a grieving NICU parent the gift of your time and your presence can be an invaluable gift. The ability to sit and listen their NICU story can be a great source of comfort. Sometimes all a parent may needs is someone who will truly and emphatically listen to their NICU story.
Really listening involves being present for the person, not interrupting and staying connected and focused on what he or she is saying. Listening communicates respect, caring and empathy in a way that few other gifts can.
Being at a time of crisis
Simply sitting and being a witness to the NICU Parent's story, stress and anxiety can help provide invaluable support for a overwhelmed parent. Spending a few quiet moments in silence, holding a hand can be a very effective way to convey your support and caring.
A gift of presence during a difficult time, will be a gift that most NICU parents will remember and cherish.
Image: Matt Hains. Listening in at the Coffee Shop. Royalty Free Use.
Be sure to still Buy a Gift for the NICU Parent
Don't let the fact that a baby is premature or in the NICU stop you from buying a gift, either for the baby of a gift for the mom of a NICU baby.
Former NICU Mother
Suggestions for Gifts for Preemie Parents
- Baby Cheapskate: Guest Post: Ten Great Frugal Gifts for Preemie Parents
Here are ten simple ideas for frugal gifts that are a perfect fit for those parenting these tiny miracles. - Gift ideas for parents of micro-preemie? - MotheringDotCommunity Forums
Gift ideas for parents of micro-preemie? NICU & Preemie Parenting - Giving back | Brisbane Premmies
Rather then let my other ideas go to waste I thought I'd compile a list here for those of you who'd also like to give back but aren't sure where to start. - NICU bags delivered! | Brisbane Premmies
At the beginning of the year I started to put together little goodies bags to take up to the the NICU at the Royal Brisbane and Woman's Hospital to celebrate Erin's second birthday. - Care Package for Friend with Preemie in NICU
I have a friend in Chicago who just had her first baby at 30 weeks. He'll be in the NICU for a couple of months and I wanted to do something helpful for her but I can't go out to visit. Does anyone have recommendations for a care package or other gif - Preemies! Preemies! Preemies!: What Are Some Nice NICU Gifts?
Talking to parents of preemies over the last few years has allowed us to compile of list of useful items that moms and dads have received (as gifts) for their premature baby while in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Living with a Baby in the NICU
Image: Benjamin Earwicker. All Hooked Up 2. Royalty Free Use.
Supportive People Life's Greatest Gift
I can't even tell you how many people said absolutely nothing to me those first few weeks because...they expected by daughter to die at any time.
Celebrate the joy with the new mom and dad. Tell them how beautiful their child is. Comment on her precious fingers and toes. Behave like you would have had had he or she been born full term.
Supportive, positive people are some of life's greatest gifts.
Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles
A Gift of Time and Presence
Articles on Helping a NICU Parent
- NICU Parent Support Blog: The Importance of Telling the NICU Story
When faced with a major life changing event, such as the hospitalization of a child in the NICU, parents are often stunned by the news and left trying to make sense. Their initial dreams of a normal birth with a healthy child have been changed. In it - NICU Parent Support Blog: What You Can Say or Do for a NICU Parent
When a baby has been admitted to the NICU, family and friends can fear saying or doing the wrong thing so much that they don't do or say anything at all; this is not helpful for a NICU parents who could use support during a difficult time. - What to Say or Do for a NICU Parent
When a baby has been admitted to the NICU, family and friends can fear saying or doing the wrong thing so much that they don't do anything at all; this is not helpful for a NICU parents who could use support.Discover some helpful suggestions of what
A Circle of Healing
Creating a Circle of Healing in the NICU
Within days after the birth of my youngest daughter and her unexpected NICU admission, thanks to the connection power of the Internet, we were able to quickly contact friends and family to notify them of what had happened.
Via phone calls and e-mail messages we tapped into the healing powers to create a circle of positive thoughts and energies from friends and family around the United States and around the world. We asked everyone to hold our daughter in their thoughts, to keep positive thoughts and prayers to mentally aid in her healing process and strengthen the Circle of Healing around her.
I truly believe that having so many people hold our daughter in their hearts, minds and souls, mentally aided in her healing process. We were blessed with the outcome. The Circle of Healing we created for her helped keep her safe and protected until she was strong enough to be discharged from the hospital.
Circle of Healing Pin available at The Violet Heart Collection
Articles about Creating a Circle of Healing
- Creating a Circle of Healing for Support in the NICU
Creating a circle of healing is something that friends and family can do when someone is sick or facing a life crisis to feel a little less helpless. It is a way for NICU Parents to keep positive thoughts and positive intentions while their baby is i - NICU Parent Support Blog: Creating a Circle of Healing and Support
I have long held the belief, both personally and professionally, that there is a healing power in holding a person in one's thoughts whether you are saying prayers or giving blessings or lighting candles. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Becoming an Empowered NICU Parent
It didn't take long, perhaps only a few hours and I decided to change my feeling of helplessness and frustration and begin taking a more active role in her care. I looked for things we could do and ways we could to contribute to her care.
A CarePage or Caring Bridge Page
Using CarePages and Caring Bridge in the NICU
Two very helpful online free resources that can be useful for helping NICU parents stay in touch and keep family and friends updates are Caring Bridge and CarePages. Setting up one of these services can be a very valuable gift for NICU Parents. Instead of having to answer everyone's questions for the day, parents (or a designated person) can post the updates on a personal website, so everyone can keep up to date with the NICU baby's progress.
Many hospitals are partnering with these two companies to provide the services to their patients and their families.
Caring Bridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit web service that helps NICU parents stay connected with family and friends during a critical illness, treatment or recovery by creating a free, personalized web page. CaringBridge pages are offered in both English and Spanish.
CarePages provides free private websites that allows NICU Parents to stay connected with family, friends and colleagues before, during and after a healthcare challenge. The CarePages website allows NICU Parents, family or friends to create a personal, private web page to help family and friends communicate easily and receive updates when a newborn is in the NICU.
More about CarePages and Caring Bridge
- NICU Parent Support Blog: CaringBridge Connect NICU Parents with Their Families
Another helpful resource for connecting NICU Parents with their Families is CaringBridge. CaringBridge® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit web service that connects family and friends during a critical illness, treatment or recovery. - CaringBridge Support and Connect NICU Parents and Their Families
CaringBridge is a useful resource for NICU parents who want to easily keep friends and family informed about their NICU baby's progress. CaringBridge is another online resource that allows NICU Parents to create a circle of healing around their NICU - NICU Parent Support Blog: NICU Parent Support CarePages
CarePages recognized that staying in touch with loved ones and friends while also managing a healthcare challenge can be difficult. But staying connected is a crucial component to getting, and staying well—for both patients and caregivers. - NICU Parent Support Blog: CarePages - Connect, Share, Care
NICU Parent Support has paired up with CarePages to give our viewers their own place online to create a page to connect, share and care during challenging times. - CarePages Help Connect NICU Families
CarePages is a useful resource for NICU Parents. They provide a free service to help connect family and friends facing health challenges with webpages.
A Water Blessing Label
Using Water Blessing Labels in the NICU
When I found the Water Blessing Labels, it didn't take me long to realize the potential for using these clear cling labels in the NICU setting to help parents, family and friends focus on positive words and affirmations.
If the water blessing labels had been available at the time, I would have asked the NICU staff put them on her I.V. fluids. (e.g. love, healing, trust, courage, guidance).
I also would have used them on any bottled water we were drinking (e.g. love, healing energy, manifesting miracles) as another way to feel that we were doing something by holding her in our foremost thoughts and using the power of words and positive thoughts even if we weren't with her.
My favorite combinations come from the Healing Medicine Collection: courage, healing, nurturance, body wisdom, healing + energy and from the Prosperity Collection: trust, success, miracles, manifest + miracles.
Courage on IV Bottle from Spirit of Water
Articles on Using Water Blessing Labels in the NICU
- Using Water Blessing Labels in the NICU
Water Blessing Labels were created by The Spirit of Water company to turn water into liquid prayers. These crystal clear static-cling labels come in a variety of different themes and can be placed on containers or bottles of water or other fluids. Wa - NICU Parent Support Blog: Water Blessing LabelsTurn Water (or Medicine) into Liquid Prayers
When I stumbled upon this website, I immediately loved the concept of using words as a simple way to enhance healing especially in the hospital setting and turn water or medicine into a liquid blessing for the patient and also for the family members. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Spirit of Water - Love is in the NICU
A blog post from a couple of years ago was featured in the February Newsletter from The Spirit of Water. You can read what was included in their newsletter below. The details are a bit muddled, but the sentiment is still real.
A Reminder for NICU Parents to TAKE CARE
Ways of Coping in the NICU
One of the most important things that a NICU parent needs to do is to be there to support their NICU baby through his or her first major life challenge. Figuring out how to be supportive and stay strong in the face of an overwhelming experience can be a major challenge for NICU parents.
There are many different ways that NICU parents find to cope with their NICU experience from journaling and scrapbooking to learning all that they can about the NICU and becoming an empowered NICU Parent to finding ways to interact with a NICU baby and perhaps most of all remembering to breathe, especially when situations get stressful.
Image: Kirsti A. Dyer. Remember to Breathe. Creative Commons License. Some Rights Reserved.
NICU Parents Need to TAKE CARE
TAKE CARE is the acronym I have developed to help people remember to focus on the basics following a major loss or life changing event.
TAKE CARE is a reminder to focus on the basics:
- T ime is needed to handle the grief.
- A void alcohol and other medications.
- K eep to some routine or schedule.
- E at a balanced diet. Focus on healthy foods and water.
- C onverse with others, especially those that have "been there" and "survived that."
- A rt can help keep the hands busy, whether journaling, building, crafting, knitting and others.
- R est and Sleep are important to help the body heal.
- E xercise to reduce stress and improve one's mood.
Articles about Ways of Coping in the NICU
- NICU Parent Support Blog: TAKE CARE During Difficult Times
Figuring out what to do when faced with life's challenges can be very difficult. I have shared some tips for coping with loss from the Journey of Hearts site with a reminder to focus on the basics after a sudden loss. - An Effective Strategy for Daily Coping
The lyrics to Anna Nalick's song Breathe have been my new mantra when things start getting difficult. I stop for a moment and remember to Breathe, Just Breathe. This simple mantra serves as a helpful reminder that when I feel stressed, I need to brea - NICU Parent Support Blog: Strategies for Dealing with NICU Stresses - Try a Relaxing or Cleansing Si
During times of stress, such as when your baby is admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), parents often are so focused on the health and well-being of their baby, that they forget to take care of themselves. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Becoming an Empowered NICU Parent
It didn't take long, perhaps only a few hours and I decided to change my feeling of helplessness and frustration and begin taking a more active role in her care. I looked for things we could do and ways we could to contribute to her care. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Ways of Interacting with Your NICU Newborn
NICU Parents often feel more like visitors than the parents of their NICU newborn. They may even resent the NICU Team caring for their baby. One way to help NICU Parents feel more like Parents is to find ways that they can interact with their new bab - Many Ways to Bond with Your NICU Baby
While NICU parents may feel an extreme sense of frustration while their newborn is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, there are still some things that can be done to bond with your baby and let your baby know that you care about him or her while he
A Gift to Help the NICU Parent Relax
Helping the NICU Parent Stay Calm and Relax
Giving a gift to help the NICU Parent relax, if even for just a few moments can be invaluable for helping that parent keep his or her sanity with their NICU experience.
Different parents may prefer different gifts to help them relax. Listening to soothing, relaxing music is a very helpful way to calm down. A gift of a soothing CD and CD player, or ipod with MP3 downloads of soothing music would be welcome by many parents.
Other useful products to help parent relax are items from the "Happy Company" like travel, dream or eye pillows, body wraps and breast buddies. Other parents might find gifts of journals or scrapbooks to help them document their NICU experience as a way to stay calm and relaxed.
Since many NICU parents do not like to be too far from their baby, giving the parent a gift that he or she can use in the NICU might be the way to go. A gift of a massage or time to take a relaxing bath might be gifts to give the NICU parent after the baby is home from the NICU.
Steven Halpern, Inner Peace available on Amazon
Music Resources to Calm NICU Parents on Amazon
Steven Halpern, Ph.D. is one of my personal favorites for calming and soothing music. He has been at the leading edge of the growing understanding of the relationship between music, body, mind and spirit. Halpern's recordings are used in hospitals, healing clinics, and leading spas worldwide.
Here are just one of his many albums. Listen to a few of the tracks and see which of the different albums is the most soothing for you.
Relax with a Body Wrap
Use a neck wrap to soothe your nerves and muscles when you do get a break.
A Gift to a NICU Parent is a Sliver of Joy
No matter how perilous the situation is, the parents and baby will appreciate a gift.
It could be the sliver of joyfulness they really badly need.
Former NICU Mother
A NICU Journal, Diary or NICU Scrapbook
Journaling or Keeping a Diary in the NICU
There are many, many benefits for NICU parents to keeping an account of their time in the NICU as a journal or a daily diary. As noted by by musician John Mayall,
- Journals are markers to whatever is going on in your life, at a particular moment. They are the memories and recollections...and the stories that were going on at the time.
Because of the many benefits to journaling the NICU Staff, nurses and social workers often encourage parents to keep a daily account of their NICU adventures as a way of coping with the NICU.
Keeping a NICU Journal allows parents to monitor the changes that are occurring with their NICU newborn which may be easier to see when reviewed over time.
Articles on NICU Journaling or Writing a NICU Diary
- NICU Parent Support Blog: Benefits of Keeping a NICU Journal or NICU Diary
There are many benefits for NICU Parents to keeping an account of their time in the NICU as a Journal or a daily diary. - NICU Parent Support Blog: The Importance of Telling the NICU Story
When faced with a major life changing event, such as the hospitalization of a child in the NICU, parents are often stunned by the news and left trying to make sense. Their initial dreams of a normal birth with a healthy child have been changed. In it - Keep a NICU Diary or Journal to Monitor Your Baby's Changes
There are many benefits for NICU parents to keeping a NICU journal or NICU diary about their NICU experiences. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Creatively Coping with NICU Journals, Diaries and Scrapbook
Three different resources have been created to help NICU Parents in keeping track of their baby's NICU experience are My NICU Journal, the NICU Diary® and Tiny Steps - My Journey Through the NICU Scrapbook. - NICU Diary Page Available for NICU Parents
Cedars-Sinai's Good Beginnings program has made a NICU Parent Diary page that is freely available online for NICU parents to download, print and use to track their NICU baby's progress. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Free NICU Journaling - NICU Diary Resources Available for NICU Parents
Cedars-Sinai's Good Beginnings has developed reference materials specifically designed for the NICU parent and may be helpful during your child's hospitalization.
A Mommy Journal on Amazon
Journals, like this Mommy Journal, are good places for NICU parents to record their thoughts while their baby is in the NICU.
Scrapbooking in the NICU
Like writing in a journal or daily diary, creating a scrapbook of your NICU baby's adventures is another way that many crafty NICU parents find helpful
Some NICU's like Holden NICU at the University of Michigan and the NICU at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital offer special programs in scrapbooking for parents in the NICU as a way to encourage parents to create a scrapbook.
Some parents might find the task of creating a scrapbook overwhelming, so the task of making a scrapbook could be passed on to a crafty grandparent, aunt or friend.
Baby scrapbook available on Amazon
Scrapbooks for Babies on Amazon
Use a scrapbook to keep mementos from the time in the NICU.
Preemie Scrapbook Journals on eBay
Scrapbooks and Journals created especially for NICU babies available on eBay.
Articles about Scrapbooking in the NICU
- Saving Memories of your Preemie Baby in the NICU
There are many ways you can record your NICU journey, including journals, photos, videos, memory boxes, scrapbooking and keeping a special NICU baby book. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but having a variety of choices is probably best. - Preemie Scrapbooking Freebies
Free downloads from Miracle Bebe with pages of NICU records, growth charts, lactation records, journaling pages, birth announcements, conversion charts, etc. These pages can be printed on your home printer, and embellish with photos or hand written c - Scrapbooking Preemie Pages
Scrapbooking Preemie Pages is a Yahoo group designed for Preemie Parents that desire to scrapbook their preemie child's album. - NICU scrapbook ideas - Discussion - Preemie support group - Inspire
Discussion posts about creating a scrapbook in and for the NICU. - Scrapbooking: SCRAPBOOKING FOR A PREEMIE, baby scrapbook, premature delivery
Suggestions and ideas for scrapbooking a baby's premature delivery and NICU stay. - Dominic's Donation Project: Pages for Preemies
Dominic's Donation Project is to provide each and every parent of a NICU baby with a completed scrapbook page.
A Book about the NICU
Using Books in the NICU
For those who like to read and gain knowledge books may be very helpful for parents understanding the NICU, why their NICU baby has been hospitalized, particular NICU ailments and what to expect in the future. Books are particularly beneficial over Internet information because they are more portable and can be carried to read in one of the quiet places - the bathroom.
Many NICU Parents find that reading about other NICU parents' experiences in the NICU may make it easier to cope. Knowing that others have been there and survived helps many to cope with the present ordeal.
Books can also be useful for helping to explain to confused older siblings about what is going on with their NICU baby brother or sister.
Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child available on Amazon
Books for NICU Parents on Amazon
Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child was one of the helpful resources that I picked up after our NICU adventure. When my daughter was in the NICU, there weren't as many resources available.
All of the books selected here are highly recommended by current NICU parents on Amazon.
A Book on Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo Care in the NICU
Kangaroo Care is a way of holding a NICU baby this is encouraged by many NICU's. Research has shown that this type of care is beneficial to both NICU parents and NICU babies.
NICU Parents who are interested in providing Kangaroo Care for their NICU baby can read up on this type of skin-to-skin care and check with the NICU staff about its policy on kangaroo care.
According to the March of Dimes, "Some NICUs postpone kangaroo care until the infant is medically stable, while others use it from birth onward. Kangaroo care is safe and beneficial, even if your baby is connected to machines."
Image: Matt & Janet Dustin. Kangaroo Care. Creative Commons.
Kangaroo Care in the Amazon Spotlight
Articles on Kangaroo Care
- Grey's Anatomy Features Using Kangaroo Care in the NICU
A recent episode of Grey's Anatomy featured Kangaroo Care, which is a beneficial skin-to-skin treatment that NICU Parents can provide to NICU Babies and preemies to aid in their care. Learn more about the Benefits of Kangaroo Care. - NICU Parent Support Blog: Kangaroo Care in the NICU Featured on Grey's Anatomy
The most recent episode of Grey's Anatomy (November 5) featured a story line about using Kangaroo Care in the NICU. Resident tough-guy Alex Karev is on a pediatric rotation and assigned to care for a fragile premature baby.
A Book to Explain the NICU to a NICU Sibling
Explaining the NICU to a NICU Sibling
Another challenging task for NICU parents is explaining to older siblings why the new baby isn't coming home as scheduled. Older siblings have been hearing about and planning for the new baby, the same way as their parents and when those plans don't come through, it can be difficult.
One of the challenges that we faced with my NICU sibling, was that there were no books available at the time to help explain to my daughter that her sister was sick and in the NICU, but would hopefully be getting better and coming home.
Most of the books available for NICU siblings are for the siblings of NICU preemies, not the sick newborns who also end up in the NICU.
No Bigger than My Teddy Bear is a good book that describes life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, through the eyes of a young child.
No Bigger Than My Teddy Bear available on Amazon
Books to Explain the NICU to Children on Amazon
There are so many books available today written to help siblings of NICU babies understand why their little brother or sister isn't coming home from the hospital.
Here are just a few.
A Keepsake Baby Box
Creating a Keepsake NICU Baby Box
Keeping NICU mementos in a Keepsake NICU Baby Box is an easy way of helping keep track of your NICU Baby's experiences, especially for the NICU parents who may be feeling too overwhelmed to be putting everything into a NICU scrapbook.
A NICU baby box is a good place to put items from the NICU like mom and baby's hospital bands and hats, isolette or crib cards and tiny footprints. You might want to include a first diaper, outfit and hat and even small stuffed animals. The Keepsake box is also a good place to put messages, notes, cards and letters received from well-wishing friends and family.
The baby box is also a place you might want to include photos from the NICU to hold until you want to look at them again or put them into photo albums or scrapbook.
Keeping everything in a box is a good way to ensure that your mementos and memories won't be misplaced. The Keepsake box will be something you may enjoy sharing with your NICU baby once he or she is old enough to understand their special beginnings in the NICU.
Keepsake Box available on Amazon
Articles about Using a Keepsake Baby Box
- Saving Memories of your Preemie Baby in the NICU
There are many ways you can record your NICU journey, including journals, photos, videos, memory boxes, scrapbooking and keeping a special NICU baby book. It doesn't matter how you do it, but having a variety of choices is probably best. - These are a few of my unusual things - Wellsphere
At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary baby keepsake box. Well, it is. It was a gift from an online acquaintance from AOL’s parenting boards. We all were proud mommies of babies born in January 2002. This was part of a gift exchange. - How to Preserve Baby Items in a Keepsake Box | eHow.com
How to Preserve Baby Items in a Keepsake Box. If you are a keeper of all things sentimental, then when you have babies, you will need to preserve all those baby toys, clothes and baby bottles. If you can find a good memory box for these items and mor - Favorite gifts in the NICU?
A mother from the - MotheringDotCommunity Forums shares one of her favorite NICU gifts was a keepsake box. - Christmas care packages - Discussion - Preemie support group - Inspire
A mother on the Preemie support group on Inspire shares one of her favorite NICU gifts, a NICU keepsake box.
Giving Gifts with Great Affection
Every gift which is given, even though is be small,
is in reality great, if it is given with affection.
Pindar
A NICU Jewelry Keepsake
I have always been a big believer in wearing jewelry items as a good luck charm or talisman (an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune or something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects).
When I was in the NICU with my daughter, my desire to have a charm or a talisman was no different, in fact the desire may have been magnified. Since my daughter was in the NICU, there have been different jewelry items developed by NICU parents as keepsakes. We developed the Violet Heart Pin as a way to express support and sympathies during challenging times.
There are also other products, like the Zorbitz bracelets and Karmaology that are good luck charms with intentions like "unexpected miracles," "good luck," "love," "health" and "strength." Many mothers have created beautiful mom necklaces and bracelets that can be personalized with the name of your NICU baby.
Do they work? I don't know, but when I was in the NICU with my daughter, I believe that even the smallest things, like having a necklace with her name on it, or a pin that would have indicated she was in the NICU would have make a huge difference.
A Violet Heart Pin
The Violet Heart Pins
I created The Violet Heart Pin as a jewelry keepsake that I would have liked to have had to wear while my daughter was in the NICU.
The pin was designed as a way of expressing heartfelt sympathies during challenging times, acknowledging the courage of those facing a significant life challenge or recognizing a current or past challenge.
The Violet Heart Pin can be worn by parents whose baby is in NICU as a reminder that they are holding their baby in their thoughts and prayers. Parents can also encourage family and friends to wear a Violet Heart Pin to indicate they are keeping the baby in their thoughts and prayers.
There is a version of the Violet Heart Pin that can be given to providers to honor the service and the remarkable healing work of the special people who help those who are grieving.
Violet Heart Pin available at The Violet Heart Collection
Article about the Violet Heart Pin
- NICU Parent Support Blog: The Violet Heart Pin - A Remembrance Pin to Honor a NICU Baby
The Violet Heart Pin was designed as a way of expressing heartfelt sympathies during challenging times, acknowledging the courage of those facing a significant life challenge or recognizing a current or past challenge.
Zorbitz Karmology Bracelets on eBay
Zorbitz Karmology bracelets come in different styles with empowering messages.
Article about Using Zorbitz Lucky Karma Beads in the NICU
- NICU Parent Support Blog: Zorbitz Lucky Karma Beads and Charms Help Focus Intentions
I know that if the Zorbits Lucky Lucky Karma Bracelets Karma Bracelets and Feng Shui Luck Charms were available when my youngest was in the NICU, we would have used them as another way to focus our energy and our intentions on her healing.
A Custom Mom's Necklace or Bracelet
Order a Custom Necklace or Bracelet from Etsy
Etsy is the leading online website that allows Etsy hundreds of thousands of sellers to sell their handmade products directly to buyers.
The Etsy sellers featured all offer different types of necklaces and bracelets that can be personalized with your baby's name and information to become a reminder of your child when he or she is not with you.
Click on the item you are interested in. If it has been sold, be sure to check the seller's shop. Many times the items have been relisted and are still available. Be sure to check the other items in the seller's shop. I have only featured a few from each of these amazing jewelry artists.
Etsy Stores that Create Personalized Jewelry
- Personalized pure silver jewelry for mom and baby by BabyCharmed
Welcome to . . . Baby Charmed! Personalized PURE SILVER jewelry that is made for mommies and hand-crafted for a unique and personalized - Hand Stamped Jewelry Personalized Necklace Charms by mncmoon
Hand stamped personalized jewelry for moms, new moms, grandmas, sisters, aunts or someone special. hand stamped necklaces, hand stamped charms, hand - Vintage inspired necklaces each with a story to tell by bellawish
Vintage Inspired Jewelry. Stamped with sweet and soulful sayings. Designed to empower, encourage, heal and inspire. All pendants are made with love - As seen in US Weekly Magazine by sTuckintheCoop on Etsy
Welcome to sTuck in the Coop ❤Gift Certificates Now Available❤ production time
A Helpful Zaky Hand
Using The Zaky Hand for NICU Babies
The Zaky® is an ergodynamic hand pillow is a way to simulate mother's or father's hand. This infant pillow is able to help provide comfort to your NICU baby when you are not able to do so.
Designed by former NICU parent, Dr. Yamile Jackson after her own NICU experience with her son Zachary in 2001, the Zaky® mimicking the shape, weight and touch of a human hand, the Zaky is able to provide comfort, support and a sense of security to NICU babies.
The special hand allows you to "leave a hand with a loved one" and "give your baby a hand" when you are not there.
The Zaky hand is one answer to the question "What can I do to support my NICU baby?" I know we would have gotten one for our daughter had they been around at the time, because I would have felt that we were leaving something with her to comfort her when we were not around.
Lime Green Zaky Hand
Articles about Using the Zaky Pillow in the NICU
- The Zaky Therapeutic Pillow for NICU Babies
The Zaky is a special ergodynamic therapeutic pillow that can be used to comfort or position a NICU baby. The Zaky was designed by a former NICU parent after her own NICU experiences with her NICU son Zachary. - Give a Zaky to Your NICU to Celebrate Moms Special Day
This Mother's Day do something special for the NICU or ICN that took care of your NICU child. Donate a Zaky, an ergodynamic positioning hand to the hospital to use with other NICU babies.
More on Ordering a Zaky
- The Zaky
The Zaky is the right hand of infant development (psychological, physical, physiological, neurological). It helps with sleep, pain management, sense of security. - Nurtured by Design - Neonatal Ergonomics
Nurtured by Design is the global leader in life sciences that successfully combines ergonomics engineering, healthcare team, family involvement, and maternal instincts to support the neurobehavioral, social/emotional, physiological, and physical deve - The Zaky, NICU Staff, What is it? / Applications - Nurtured by Design
The results suggest that The Zakys significantly improve self-regulation and organization and decrease apnea and bradycardia in NICUs
Giving a Gift from the Heart
A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time
and at the right place...
Bhagavad Gita
Benefiting March of Dimes
This lens benefits the March of Dimes, an organization working to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
What gifts suggestions do you have for NICU Parents?