A Guiding Hand for Families in Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 41
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
The visits should be planned with the age of the child
in mind. The length of the visit should be appropriate
to the child’s attention span. Often very young children
only want to stay a few minutes. Children over 5 years
may need more time to feel comfortable, as they are
more aware of how the baby is different from full term
babies; they may need to be encouraged to interact
with the baby.
It is important to note that siblings are not able to visit if they are unwell. If
your child has sign or symptoms of illness, check with nursery staff before
arranging for them to visit.
Books for siblings:
• My Colourful Journey
• My Brother Tom (Proceeds of the sale go to
LLTF)
• My Brother is a premmie
• My Sister is a premmie
• Waiting for Baby: A Sibling Visits
the NICU
• No Bigger than My Teddy Bear
• Siblings of a baby in the
NICU – Video
More books can be found at: www.prematurity.org
Ask your Heath
Professional about
‘My Colourful
Journey’ which
helps explain what
is happening to their
baby siblings
Grandparents
Parents of premature and sick babies may be shocked,
overwhelmed and confused – and their parents
(the baby’s grandparents) — often feel exactly the
same. They have looked forward to the birth of their
grandchild with joy and expectation, and their dreams
of a happy birth are shattered as well. The shattered
expectations of grandparents are as much for their own child as for their
newborn grandchild.
There are many things grandparents can do to help their child and
grandchild. This could be as simple as sitting with mum as she feeds her
baby or offering to stay with baby so mum and dad can spend a few
moments together and have a coffee.
Check out our tips for Grandparents on our website at: www.
lifeslittletreasures.org.au
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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