To Parents, Family & Friends
Some products are available for Home Use
Not all our products are suitable for home use. Most are used
in the hospital setting where monitoring is taking place. If
your hospital is not using our things please contact us.
800-6760462
By the time your little one
goes home they should
not need most of
the hospital products but
if that situation occurs call
us and we will see if we can help.
Please take the time to read: It is to help make the NICU experience a little bit easier. We at Small Beginnings are all clinicians, we try to understand the difficult and emotional times of mixed feelings and uncertainty that come with having a your precious wee one in the NICU. We express our sincere hope that your baby makes a successful and healthy recovery. Here are some things that might help you in this very stressful time. Click..for a sample of our parent guide, we wish all NICUs provided it for the parents of their tiny patients. This booklet was developed by nurses in an Ohio NICU to help them to help you. We make and sell them at our cost to make things easier for you and your bedside nurse. It is our desire to help you understand the best way to interact with your baby in the most helpful way. It gives a lists of things to do that are the most appropriate at each stage that your baby goes through. Ask your nurse to help you learn how and when to use these suggestions. Please scroll down for additional helpful suggestions from nurses and other healthcare professionals with information about age appropriate care and its importance.
Development outside of the womb still needs to take place just as though your baby were still nestled in that safe place. It is important that all who interact with your little ones (that means Mom and Dad, siblings, grandparents or other visitors) are aware of these needs and are trying to decrease stress by following these principles.
NICU nurses are trained in developmental issues that help growth & development and decrease stress. They can help you. Some of the things your nurse does you might want to know more about. These practices help with decreasing stress which speeds healing and growth and lessens your baby's hospital stay. Here is more info and see our parents guide by clicking......
Things you may see your nurse do or you can ask about
1.) Whenever possible maintain fetal positioning with little arms and legs close to a midline curl, as in the womb (see our position products).
2.) Minimize cold stress by maintaining a warmed neutral thermal environment because preemies and sick infants cannot maintain their own body temperature very well. Therefore decrease cool breezes and cold touch, such as equipment, scales, hands, etc., if a closed warmer is not available see our "Climate Cover", it does the job.
3.) Whenever possible protect from harsh sounds, lights, and touch, see our Quillo-Iso Cover--also our Precious Gowns, Bili-bonnet we have it all)
4.) Whenever possible allow skin to skin touch with parents (on chest or breast close to heart beat) our Cuddle Up can make you & your nurse feel more secure as well as our Cuddle Up Snuggler which can be used with heel warmers in pockets provided for warmth for the tiny preemies
5.) Combine tasks (called Cluster Care) that are due about the same time to do as many as possible each time it is necessary to disturb a resting baby. And minimize contact and stress as much as possible. This allows for normal sleep patterns, sleep allows growth and healing, even infants can get sleep deprivation when they do not get at least 2 hours of undisturbed sleep at a time and stress with all the NICU stimuli Pacee Pacifer can help.
These sites may help with the care and understanding of your preemie and the NICU
This site may help: http://grahamsfoundation.org/resources/the-mypreemie-app/
This site may help: QCP http://www.caringessentials.org/family-use
This site may help: QCP http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312703.php
Some web sites that may benefit your children. Views not necessarily shared by
Small Beginnings or its staff.
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Nutrition for Kids: Helping Children Get Off to a Good Start Motivating Kids to be Active
How to Create an Autism-Friendly Environment for Kids Minding the Kids in Divorce: Minimizing the Mental Health Impact
Mental Illness in Children: Signs, Types, & Causes Copy & paste to go to web site