Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In

My child has

Search
Because childhood should be simple ...
 

A Team for NICU FamiliesCook Children's

NICU education

All newborns are delicate, but NICU babies can have special needs, both during their stay and when they go home.

We offer a variety of classes to help you care for and bond with your baby while you are in the NICU. We also have classes to prepare you for your homecoming. So you can trust that long after your newborn goes home from the Cook Children's NICU, we're there for you.

NICU Infant Touch and Massage Class

Touch can be a very important contributor to an NICU infant's recovery. The NICU Infant Touch and Massage Class meets weekly to train parents of NICU babies. Please check with the unit secretary for the weekly schedule and/or sign-up on the dry-erase board located in the progressive unit.

NICU babies and stress

Our all-single NICU suites are designed to reduce stress on our tiny patients. To help ensure that these delicate babies are as stress-free as possible, here are a few things you can do as a parent to help your baby relax and grow:

  • Talk to your baby before touching him/her so he/she knows you are there.
  • Before beginning an activity like feeding, lay your baby in your lap for a few minutes so he/she can get adjusted to being moved out of his/her bed.
  • When interacting with your baby talk softly and hold him/her quietly and firmly.
  • Many preterm babies are not ready for vigorous rocking.
  • A gentle but firm touch without movement from your hands is easier for your baby to understand. Avoid moving your hands in stroking motions while your baby is small. His or her brain is not ready to process all that information.
  • If your little one is unhappy try tucking his/her arms in close to his/her body and wrapping him/her in a blanket.
  • Shade your baby's eyes from bright lights with your hand.
  • If possible, remove whatever it is that is causing your baby's stress. It might be as simple as too much rocking, sudden and quick movements, loud voices or too much light in his face.

NICU Safe Beginnings Class

It is an exciting and nervous time when your baby finally gets to leave the NICU and go home. To help ease the transition, this class is to assist you in providing a safer environment for your baby. It includes CPR, car seat safety, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), and shaken baby syndrome. Classes are offered 3 times each week. Check with your unit nurse for scheduling or questions.