Once Upon a Time in the NICU: ‘Babies with Books’ initiative in Children’s Health Ireland
Once upon a time, in a very special part of CHI at Crumlin and CHI at Temple Street children’s hospitals, there were tiny babies who needed a lot of extra care.
11 Meán Fómhair 2024
CHI at Temple Street
News
Baby Eamon - Babies with Books
These babies were so brave and strong, but they were also very small and sometimes needed to stay in the hospital. The doctors and nurses in the NICU were very kind and took great care of the babies, but they knew there was something else that could help the little ones grow big and strong: the sound of their parents’ voices.
So, every year in September, they join other babies in NICUs across the world, as they take part in a wonderful idea filled with stories, rhymes, and lullabies: The Babies with Books read-a-thon.
In this magical week, families are invited to sit by their baby’s side and read them beautiful stories. Every time a parent opens a book and begins to read, the NICU fills with warmth and love. The babies, even though they are tiny, can hear their parents’ voices and feel safe and happy. It is not just the babies who feel better, though. The mammies and daddies, who sometimes feel worried or scared, find that reading makes their hearts feel a little lighter. Even though their babies can’t yet understand the words, they know their parents are right there with them, reading stories of faraway lands, friendly animals, and sweet lullabies.
And so, with the help of caring doctors, nurses, and parents, the babies in the NICU continued to grow, dream, and listen to stories. And soon, the NICU became a place where love and stories worked together to help the tiniest patients grow stronger each day.
Ella and Eamon’s Story:
Dr Claire Crowe and Dr Anne-Marie Casey’s Story
The NICU babies-with-books readathon runs from Sept 9th-19th this year.
The neonatal wards at CHI at Temple Street and CHI at Crumlin have baby libraries, so parents can come choose a story to read to their baby.
CHI would like to offer a special thank you to Blanchardstown Library, CHI’s Arts in Health Programme, Children's Books Ireland, and Children's Health Foundation, who generously donated books for the Read-a-Thon.