With a baby in the NICU, often times the last thing that anyone is focusing on is figuring out a gift to give to the new baby.
Even though it is hard on parents having a baby in the NICU, it also hard for NICU parents not to feel the support of family and friends, because they are not receiving gifts to celebrate their new baby.
My advise (and the advise of other former NICU Parents) is to send a gift to the NICU Parent or NICU baby, to show your love and support.
Family and friends of NICU Parents may be confused in trying to decide whether to get a gift for a baby hospitalized in the NICU.
When my daughter was in the NICU, one of my dear friends told me she was waiting to see what was going to happen before buying a gift for my daughter. While I could understand her thoughts on one level, I felt hurt on another. For me, I think that not getting a gift to celebrate my daughter’s birth hurt more than getting a well-meant gift for my daughter if she had not survived the NICU.
It can be helpful for family and friends to remember the reason for giving a gift to the parents when a baby is born. Gifts are given to celebrate the the birth of a new baby and in most cases should be given whether it is a normal birth or a NICU birth.
Gifts for NICU Babies
Since life in the NICU can be challenging for NICU parents, most will appreciate helpful gifts that can be used by the NICU baby. This list of gifts come from ideas suggested by former NICU parents. All of the gifts selected are ones that were considered to be useful by a former NICU parent.
A Stuffed Animal
Stuffed animals are a common gift for newborns and a good one to give to NICU newborns, since they are a comforting gift that can stay with them in their NICU bed (isolette). A little stuffed animal like the eco-friendly mini plush toys from Sevi like the Hippo
Another option is the Sleep Sheep
A Cuddly Blanket, Sleepsack or SwaddleMe Blanket
Another very helpful gift idea for NICU babies are a cuddly blanket or a sleepsack to wrap up the baby. Pediatricians recommend swaddling as a method to soothe and comfort newborns. Studies have shown that swaddling helps babies to sleep better in addition to providing a comforting “hug.” These blankets are gifts that NICU parents will use even after the NICU.
JessieLeigh of Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles recommends waffle-weave blankets as the best one for swaddling her tiny preemie. These blankets are 100% certified organic, eco-friendly and designed to be a perfect swaddling blanket for new born babies. They come in a variety of beautiful colors including: Periwinkle
The HALO SleepSack and SwaddleMe Blankets are other gift recommended for NICU babies. The SleepSack is a wearable baby blanket and is being touted as the safer way for your baby to sleep. SleepSacks are available in a variety of colors: Swaddle Blue
SwaddleMe Blankets come with fabric wings to hug your NICU baby. The design also includes an easy accessible opening at the bottom for quick diaper changes while the baby stays comfortably swaddled. SwaddleMe Blankets come in different colors: SwaddleMe Pink
A Zaky Hand
I have really liked the concept of the Zaky (Theraputic Positioning Pillow) or Zaky Hand Infant Pillow, since I first heard about the concept. Unfortunately for us it was not available when my daughter was in the NICU.
The Zaky hand is a very thoughtful gift for any NICU baby, because the hand can stay with the baby to providing comfort for a NICU baby when the parents are not able to be with him or her.
Read more about using the Zaky pillow in the article The Zaky Therapeutic Pillow for NICU Babies.
A Soothing Baby CD
Research is now showing that playing music for NICU babies can be very helpful and soothing for them. When my daughter was in the NICU we brought in music on a CD player with little headphones for her to listen to music while we were gone.
Some of the music suggested for NICU babies include: Transitions: Soothing Music for Crying Infants(Transitions Music)
A Baby Book
Reading a favorite baby book is a good way for NICU parents to bond with their NICU baby. A helpful gift idea for a NICU baby is to give the NICU Parents a book that can be read to the baby while in the NICU and even once they are all home.
The March of Dimes recommends that parents, family and friends looks for books with bright contrasting colors, made of cardboard or cloth and have pictures of other babies faces.
Some good board books for NICU babies include: Counting Kisses
A Prayer, Blessing or Poem
Many NICU Parents find a great deal of comfort in having a special NICU Prayer, healing blessing, water blessing label or NICU poem displayed on the isolette or pod where their baby is staying.
When my daughter was in the NICU, we wrote and place a NICU blessing on her isolette. This Special Healing Blessing comes as a bonus when you download the Free NICU eBook, For Those Who Hold the Littlest Hands.
Several NICU Poems are shared with the Make a Preemie Prayer Pocket to Help Cope with the NICU article and several Christmas Poems in the Making it a Merry Christmas in the NICU. These poems could be printed out and given to NICU parents. Former NICU Parent, Tara Roper shared her poem, A Prayer for the N.I.C.U. on the NICU Parent Support Blog, in the post Comforting Message: A Prayer from the NICU.
Giving Gifts Celebrate the Birth of a New Baby
Former NICU Parent and Type-A Mom Founder Kelby Carr had this to say about giving a gift to a NICU baby or 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.
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.
While it is hard having a baby in the NICU, it is also hard for NICU parents to not feel the support of family and friends, with the normal gifts parents receive to celebrate the new baby.
Former NICU Parent, JessieLeigh of “Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles” offers the following advice about getting a gift for NICU Parents:
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.
With a NICU baby, there may be all sorts of other concerns for the newborn, but most parents will still appreciate family and friends taking the time to acknowledge the newest member or members in their family.
More on Gift Ideas for NICU Parents
Dyer KA. 2009. Gift Ideas for NICU Parents and NICU Babies. NICU Parent Support Blog.
Dyer KA. 2009. Gift Ideas for NICU Babies. Squidoo.com.
Dyer KA. 2009. Gift Suggestions for NICU Parents. Type-A Mom.
Dyer KA. 2009. Gift Ideas for NICU Parents. Squidoo.com.
Image. Adapted from Justyna Furmanczyk’s Baby is Born!! Royalty Free Use.
About the Author
Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor, lecturer and author. She is also the Parent of a very healthy NICU Survivor.
Dr. Dyer created and has maintained Journey of Hearts, a website for anyone who has ever experienced a loss. She is the author of For Those Who Hold the Littlest Hands, an eBook written to provide information, encouragement and support for NICU parents. She is the founder of the NICU Parent Support Site, a website developed to provide information, encouragement and support for NICU parents.
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As a NICU nurse, I have another recommendation. When your baby is out of the isolette and big enough to wear clothes, nurses highly prefer clothing that snaps completely open and has short sleeves.
This makes it easier to work with the IV lines, leads, and other tubing your baby likely has. I say short sleeves because IVs are often in the upper extremities and it’s better if we can visualize it to make sure it’s not going bad. Also, the less often we have to disconnect and reconnect central IV lines for clothing changes, the lower the risk of infection.