Today, with advances in medicine, premature babies have an ever increasing chance for survival. It’s not uncommon to hear, “we don’t care what the baby is, as long as its healthy.” But there are many babies today born too early, and they are still very much wanted, and loved. If a premature baby has arrived in your life, there are gifts that can help baby and mother/father bond, and give an added boost for stability and development. Take that extra step and give a gift of thoughtfulness the new mother will appreciate.
Skin-to-Skin Care for Premature Babies
Also known as Kangaroo Mother Care, skin to skin care is often recommended for premature or preterm babies. According to Kangaroo Mother Care’s website, skin-to-skin contact can provide a number of benefits including:
- Better brain development
- Better emotional development
- Less stress
- Less crying
- More settled sleep
- Breathe better
There are also benefits for the parents of premature babies:
- Parents become more central to the care team
- Better bonding and interaction with the baby
- Emotional healing
- Parents are calmer
- Better coping skills in the NICU
But what about when baby comes home? Is skin-to-skin still important?
At feeding time, skin-to-skin care can help!
Skin-to-skin care can also assist at home for babies who have trouble relaxing and settling at feeding time. For both bottle and breastfeeding, skin to skin can help them gain a sense of security and assist in transition them to the sucking action needed to latch on and feed appropriately.
Tummy-time can be mommy or daddy and baby time.
“Tummy Time” is also an important part of a baby’s development. According to babygooroo, this time spent each day can assist babies in developing healthy tummy structure, and neck muscles. The good news is you don’t have to just leave the baby on a blanket on the floor. Get involved in tummy time by letting baby lie on your tummy. Jacaranda Living’s Carly Nightgown with button front, and our full line of embroidered pajamas are perfect for a relaxing, or not so relaxing day spent with a new baby, and plenty of tummy-to-tummy time.
They’re a perfect choice for a new mother, or mother-to-be. Whether baby is full term or premature, comfortable, embroidered cotton sleepwear is a special treat mom will enjoy immediately because of the flexibility it offers for spending time with the new little one in her life. She’ll also appreciate it later on, when looking for something to relax in for a much-needed night’s sleep!
Some of our pajama tops are even cute enough to wear as a cool summer top!
Preemie Daywear – What’s best?
Premature babies can have difficulty with body warmth in the early weeks. While the NICU will provide for them, once a small baby is home, making sure to provide comfortable, warm and safe clothing is important. Too warm is not good, but choosing a light fabric and being able to layer is a good idea.
Consider the benefit of natural fabrics like cotton which is soft, and breathable and ranked among natural fabrics as the best for babies. Cotton is washable, and comfortable for little ones to snuggle down in. Another recommendation included on babycenter.com is avoiding ribbons, strings and ties. These can present a choking hazard for infants. Baby Sacks from Jacaranda Living are a perfect choice, with no strings or ties, and an elastic bottom to keep tiny feet warm, but allow for movement and air circulation.
They also offer mitten cuffs to keep baby from scratching himself. In a variety of embroidery options and matching accessories, including onesies, booties, hats and bibs, these are a great baby shower gift or welcome home surprise!
The Benefit of Booties
Booties are a great way to keep baby’s feet warm but give you flexibility when temperatures change. It’s easy to remove booties (your little one will probably find that out quickly!), when you’re outdoors on a warm day, but to put them back on in air-conditioned spaces. Taking a walk on a sunny day with a bit of a breeze can be comfortable for you, but perhaps a bit too chilly for naked baby feet. According to Footfiles, infant socks, or booties can help with fussiness, difficulty sleeping, decreased appetite and poor weight gain! A simple item of clothing can make an obvious difference! So, consider our wide range of booties as a perfect option, for you or someone you know!
Sources
http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/
https://babygooroo.com/articles/10-ways-to-do-skin-to-skin-care
https://www.babycenter.com/404_whats-the-best-sleepwear-for-my-baby_7628.bc