Even the smallest child can benefit from someone reading to them, including babies born prematurely. As part of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Awareness month, Woman’s Hospital joined NICUs across the country to participate in a read-a-thon from Sept. 14-24. Reading helps babies with neuro-development and is a positive experience for families providing a sense of normalcy of being a parent, even when their child is facing medical challenges.
“Between Woman’s NICU staff and families, we logged 170 reading sessions and handed out 215 books giving families a positive experience to reflect upon during such a stressful time,” said Leigh Townsend, NICU family support navigator. Every baby also received a Born to Read onesie.