A Guiding Hand for Families in Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 43
Tips for Grandparents supporting
parents with a baby in the
NICU or SCN
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
Your precious grandchild has arrived and requires special care in a neonatal unit. Of course
you’re worried for the baby’s health, but you’re also concerned for the parents and how
they’ll cope with the journey ahead of them. It’s natural to want to ease your child’s pain
and anxiety but it’s your ongoing love and support that will make the most difference.
Here are some ideas for how you can express that love and support
in a way that will benefit the parents.
PRACTICAL SUPPORT MIGHT INCLUDE...
• Acknowledging the baby’s birth – sending
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT MIGHT INCLUDE…
• Complimenting the baby at each visit – focusing
flowers or gifting a diary to record milestones.
• Offering to notify people of the baby’s birth and
passing on other information and updates.
on family resemblances and their fighting spirit.
• Telling the parents what a good job they’re
doing and how you admire their strength,
dedication and parenting skills.
• Offering to drive parents to and from the
hospital and providing meals or snacks.
• Listening to the parents’ fears and concerns.
• Spending quality time with any siblings – this can
help them feel as important as the baby.
• Reassuring the parents – it’s common for them
to feel guilty or responsible for their baby’s
condition.
• Visiting your grandchild when the parents
aren’t able with the parents consent.
• Avoiding being critical of your grandchild’s
• Keeping in regular contact if you live far away.
• Updating your whooping cough vaccine before
care in the hospital – babies in the neonatal
unit are sometimes handled differently to
full-term babies.
visiting the baby and staying away if unwell.
BE STRONG FOR YOUR CHILD
Above all, our best advice is to always be guided by the parents.
Sometimes what you think is helpful may not be, so take the lead from
them. Don’t expect praise or thanks – your child might be in a state of
shock or be too overwhelmed to even notice all your efforts.
Finally, recognise that you too may need support so seek help if required.
It is likely your child won’t have the emotional capacity to look after you.
This is the time for you to be strong for your child.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
lifeslittletreasures.org.au
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code to visit our
website.
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