There is a special place in my heart for moms whose babies have to spend any time in the NICU. Since Hudson was born 7 weeks early, he spent 17 days under the watchful eye of those awesome nurses. After I was released from the hospital, we made daily trips to visit our little guy. Sometimes, when I smell certain anti-bacterial gels it takes me back to those NICU days...lots of hand washing, lots of beeping noises, lots of strange feelings...
Each mom's story is different. (You can read mine here and here) But each family with a baby in the NICU has similar needs.
At our last MOPS meeting, we all brought in items to assemble care packages for the families with babies in the NICU.
We had hoped to have enough items for 10 care packages, but ended up making 20. They will be delivered this week to the families.
Most of the time, the mom is released from the hospital way before the baby is able to come home. We hope these packages will help make their NICU stay a little easier and let them know we care.
If you would like to assemble a package of your own for a NICU family, here are some suggestions of items to include:
The moms can attach this to the outside of those little beds.
Each mom's story is different. (You can read mine here and here) But each family with a baby in the NICU has similar needs.
At our last MOPS meeting, we all brought in items to assemble care packages for the families with babies in the NICU.
We had hoped to have enough items for 10 care packages, but ended up making 20. They will be delivered this week to the families.
Most of the time, the mom is released from the hospital way before the baby is able to come home. We hope these packages will help make their NICU stay a little easier and let them know we care.
If you would like to assemble a package of your own for a NICU family, here are some suggestions of items to include:
- snacks (fruit, crackers, granola bars, gum, mints, candy, etc) Those vending machine selections get old and expensive over time.
- lotions - you have to constantly wash your hands, and all that washing can dry out your skin
- personal heigene items - toothbrush/toothpaste, make-up removing wipes, etc.
- magazines to help pass the time - we even had some sports/guy magazines for the dads
- devotional books
- journals, note cards, card games, etc.
- hand sanitizer
- picture frames - a nurse put a picture of our little family in Hudson's bed for the hours we weren't there and we also took a copy of the picture home with us
- gift cards for local restaurants, gas stations, coffee shops, etc. (Some area businesses donated gift cards and coupons for free food)
- roll of quarters for vending machines
- bottles of water
I made some baby bed bunting, like I had made for Nora's hospital bed. All those wires and monitors might look a little less scary with some cute decorations. I remember a nurse decorating Hudson's bed for Christmas. I loved seeing that...You want to be able to dress your baby in those cute little clothes and wrap him in cute colorful blankets,but many times, due to the wires and tubes, those cute things have to wait.
The moms can attach this to the outside of those little beds.
As I hot glued these flags, I prayed for the babies and families who would receive them.
I hope these little bits of felt and string can make a mom feel that she and her baby are special and loved.
I knew that I couldn't just bring a wad of the bunting.
So, I wrapped each little string around a library card. Any piece of card stock would work.
The NICU will always hold a special place in my heart. After all, the NICU cared for and loved on my baby when I couldn't.
I am so glad that we had the opportunity to share God's love with some other families experiencing what we did.
Love this! I love that you prayed for these little ones while you were making them. You have the knowledge of how to pray for these families. What a blessing these bags will be.
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