Visiting the NICU Admission to the NICUHow we care for your baby Neonatal surgery Developmental care Parental involvement Coping and where to get help Family journeys Parental rights and responsibilities NICU jargon buster Frequently asked questions

 

At first it may not seem very easy to personalise your baby's cot - your baby may have a perfect room waiting for him/her at home and you may feel disheartened as he/she is now in an incubator. But there are lots of ways you can make your baby's cot more personal so that you feel much more a part of where your new baby is staying. After all, his/her incubator is just like his/her very first bedroom! You can choose your baby's bed linen, we have a choice of colourful blankets, quilts and sheets readily available on the unit. Up to two soft toys can be placed in your baby's incubator. You may have a photo of yourselves, or a photo of the whole family, that can easily be placed inside the incubator.

 

It is important to involve brothers and sisters, who may wish to bring in a soft toy or special blanket for their new baby brother/sister to have whilst in hospital. They may also wish to draw a picture or make a card that can be placed in the incubator.

 

 

If your baby is well enough to wear clothes, you can choose an outfit from the collection we have on the unit, or you may wish to bring one in from home.  A note can  be placed inside the incubator to remind staff that your baby is wearing his/her own clothes. Nurses will then put all your baby's laundry in a bag for you to wash, this is a good way for your new arrival to familiarise themselves with your own washing powder. Please be aware that sometimes mistakes do happen, and clothing may get washed on the unit. If this happens we will endeavour to find the mislaid items, but unfortunately this does not always happen. Please bear in mind that if you do decide to bring in your own clothes for your baby, the NICU cannot be held responsible for any lost items.