Hello preemie moms! I wanted to get your opinion. My friend started a support group/charity for parents of preemies. She does up care packages and delivers them to the local NICUs. My mom is very talented with all things handmade, and I wanted to commission her to make something to donate.
I was thinking hats, but maybe you ladies have a better idea??
Thanks!!
pomegranate / 3845 posts
When my LO was in the nicu, they used blankets to cover the isolettes when the babies were sleeping, all of which were donated. They were mostly thick plush fleece type blankets with fun patterns. We didn't really decorate LO's area since it was thankfully a short stay, but having a lovely blanket to use to cover the isolette was nice. One family had an NFL fleece over their LO's isolette.
pomegranate / 3863 posts
Hats are really practical, as are the blankets that the PP suggested!
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
They had me put a little receiving blanket down my shirt to get my scent and put in with lo when I couldn't hold her yet. Then I took it home with me. Something like that would be nice.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
We were given a handmade hat and matching blanket in the nicu. They are one of the few "special" things I have set aside that wont be handed down.
ETA: we were actually given two hats. One that was part of the matching set, and then a smaller one because the one that matched was too big. You may want to make the hats extra tiny! The tiny one we got was really only hat lo wore because all the other ones we had were way too big too.
The hat in the first picture is the matching one, and the going home picture is the blanket but he is wearing the tiny hat 
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
When we were in the nicu, at one point someone crocheted shawls for the mamas, which were really nice since it was always freezing and we were always half naked pumping! I was given more hats than I knew what to do with...
pomelo / 5628 posts
The very best thing is these little bean bags that they lay on the little babies (esp micropreemies) to give them some pressure. They were in high demand! We will also keep our isolette quilt forever. For us there was tons and tons of hats and booties so I wouldn't make that a priority if she's super crafty.
pineapple / 12802 posts
I agree that a bean bag or blankets or shawls are all great ideas! I know I would have loved a shawl while pumping. ugh!
grapefruit / 4311 posts
i don't have any ideas, but i just love this project so much!!! kudos to your friend! we were only in the NICU for 6 days, but my heart definitely has been moved to do something for the long-term parents and little ones!
grapefruit / 4731 posts
When my LO was in the nicu (weird story... not preemie, he had jaundice but there was no room for us in the pediatrics wing so us and 2 other jaundice newborn were taken care of in the nicu).
It was really sweet during his stay he got a hat and blanket that was made by volunteers for the nicu. We asked if this is for us because we are kind of a weird case and the nurse said YES! He's in the nicu, he gets nicu swag. It was actually really touching because we were new parents... we didn't know what we did wrong for our baby to have to go back to the hospital and it was very comforting.
pomegranate / 3863 posts
Oooh the shawl idea is amazing. I was never cold because they kept the temp up in there but something to make me feel more covered would have been nice!
coconut / 8079 posts
The little bean bag that @Mrs Green Grass: mentioned is a great idea. Our LO was not a preemie but they used one of those on him. There was also a quilting group that made small quilts that fit inside the bed over his sheet. It's gorgeous and meant so much to me because we didn't have any of LO's own blankets from home in the rush of traveling to a new place.
cantaloupe / 6397 posts
Thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions! I really like the shawl idea, I would've never thought of that!
@runnerd: I know!! I am so proud of her!!!
persimmon / 1135 posts
I think the shawl idea is great! we were never allowed to have anything in from outside for A, but I was always cold and sitting on uncomfortable chairs all day. Something to feel more at home for me while spending time with A would've been great
nectarine / 2936 posts
@Mrs Green Grass: That's a great idea! LO has a commercial one (called a Frog) in her isolette and she LOVES it.
I was thinking quilt or blanket. The little babies use them on top of the isolettes to block out light. Also any kind of keepsake blankie would be nice. Someone made one of those small fleece blankies to keep on LO's back when we kangaroo.
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@Mrs Green Grass: omg those beanbags. We still use D's all the time, now to hold his wire down low through the crib slats. Great suggestion
@mrs. 64: take that thing home with you! I have two and wish I stole more.
pomegranate / 3401 posts
When we were in the NICU, each baby had a beautiful handmade sign with their name decorated with sayings, stickers, etc and laminated. They hung on the ends of the isolettes and open cribs. It was wonderful to see that each baby had something personalized with their name on it so that they weren't just being called "Baby Girl Smith" etc.
nectarine / 2936 posts
@Ginabean3: That's another great suggestion. When we got to the NICU some of the older babies had personalized signs but the nurse that made them stopped doing them for some reason. We had to make one ourselves because we wanted her to have a personalized spot.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
My LO wasn't a preemie, but was in the NICU. He got a hat someone made, but it was pretty much too small. So maybe whatever your friend decides to do, she'll keep in mind that not all NICU babies are teeny tiny.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@Mrs Green Grass: I was super appreciative to whoever made them, I only wished we could have gotten more use out of it considering the time someone put into it.
persimmon / 1316 posts
@sslm: Not a NICU mom but I am a NICU nurse so thought I would give some input:)
The bean bags (we call them froggies) are great. I have never seen hand made ones before we get them from a manufacturer but are always in short supply so if they can be made that would be awesome. Receiving blankets are the best sizes to swaddle preemies and larger blankets are nice to dress up their bedding. Hats are fine but in our unit we have bins and bins of hand made hats that we will never really go through where when we have blankets they get used up really fast.
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