1. Seeing

A baby would prefer to look at a person than anything else. A distance of about 30cm between yours and your baby’s face is ideal for them to see your expression. Don't "chase" your baby if they look away. Turning away, or closing eyes is the baby's way of regulating themselves in social interactions. If you wait, your baby will find you again when they're ready.

Marked mirroring is matching your facial expressions to your baby’s. This tells them you understand them and gives them reassurance.

Your baby is interested in the world around them but they will get tired easily, and may be easily startled. Introduce things to look at slowly at a safe distance. Hold the object still, and enable your baby to focus and look in their own time.

2. Hearing

Language is important for your baby’s development. Studies show babies in NICU hear less words than babies at home. Even if your baby is unwell it is important to speak to them to help them learn language. If you are not sure what to say, try reading a book. You can find some in the book trolley in HDU pod or online via www.storyberries.com.

Reading, Singing and Listening - parents have the power

Your baby has been listening to you and their surroundings since before they were born and regardless of how they seem right now, they will be soothed by you talking or singing.

Singing is good for you too. When you sing you breathe more deeply and you relax a little. You can sing any time - maybe when you are standing or sitting at the bedside, holding or feeding your baby, or during cuddles. Given that hospital is not a very private space some parents don’t feel like they can sing in front of others. You might like to try humming first. That’s also really good, but not so revealing!

If singing or humming are not for you then talking is also a great reassurance for your baby. Not only does the baby hear your voice, but when you are up close your baby can actually feel the warmth of your breath on their skin. This means that they can ‘feel’ you right there and benefit from your loving care.

If you are not available during your baby’s wakeful times, the nurse might recommend that the Music Therapist provide some music for your baby. They will come and discuss what music you like, what music we might play to your baby, how often and for how long. Music will then be selected or prepared for you and your baby to use. The music generally has a slow, steady speed and is not too loud as sudden or loud sounds can startle and unsettle babies. If you would prefer to use music from home, check with the music therapist first to ensure it is appropriate for your baby.

Please do not play music from a radio for your baby in Butterfly. The sound that comes from a radio changes every few minutes, with big changes in volume and quality. For baby’s ears, it is just more noise in an already noisy environment, and we know that noise can be harmful for some babies.

3. Touch

Babies in NICU may have lots of negative touch experiences, for example, when they are having blood tests taken.

Positive touch from you is really important to reassure them that being touched can be a really enjoyable experience.

Positive touch is when you cradle your baby with still, resting hands so it is also known as “hand hugs”. Your hands are placed on your baby with consistent and predictable pressure, avoiding light feathery touch which can be stressful and more stimulating. Comfort touch does not involve massage or stroking.

Before starting comfort touch it is a good idea to remove your watch or jewellery. Then roll your sleeves up to your elbows and wash your hands, which helps to warm them up as well as cleaning them. Talk to your baby before you touch then so they are aware you are there and they can prepare themselves for touch.

Watch your baby’s cues to decide how long you provide comfort touch. When you are finished, move your hands away slowly (one at a time) so that you avoid startling your baby.

Skin-to-skin care between babies and parents is important for sick or preterm infants requiring hospital admission. It is also known as Kangaroo Care.

The benefits for your baby include:

• increased physiological stability (heart and breathing rate, etc.)
• longer periods of quiet sleep
• improved self-regulation
• increased breast feeding success and duration
• decreased pain sensation, and reduced stress and crying.

Benefits for parents include:

• enhanced parent-baby attachment with a reduction in the negative effects of having a sick or preterm infant
• greater ability to recognise your baby’s cues
• increased self-confidence
• decreased parental depression
• increased breast milk supply.

4. Smell

Your baby’s sense of smell develops at about 22 weeks gestation and they are able to recognise your smell.

When separated in NICU the use of scent cloths impregnated with parent scent can support sleep, improve response to pain and promote settling behaviours.

Mothers and fathers can also take home scent cloths with the scent of their baby which may help promote parent-baby attachment and increased breast milk production for mothers.

We will provide you with a scent cloth to leave with your baby when you are not there.

It is best to avoid strong smells such as perfume and cigarette smoke as these can be really unsettling for babies.

5. Taste

Your baby will be curious about taste and can tell the difference between tastes that are nice, and tastes that are not.

It is important to create positive pre-feeding experiences for your baby and not push a baby into tasting or feeding until they are ready. Follow their lead by watching their cues.

You can learn a lot more about this in the 'Caring for your baby: Feeding' section. Using a small amount of expressed breast milk to clean your baby’s mouth, allowing them to such a dummy when to settle them or when they are having tube feeds and using scent cloths, are all ways your baby can experience taste even if they are not yet ready to suck their feeds themselves.

How else can I get to know my baby and be involved?

The 'Caring for your baby' section will teach you lots of ways to be “hands-on” with your baby such as changing their nappy, checking their temperature or feeding them. The more you can be present with your baby, the more chances you will have to get to know they, practice your parenting skills with them and feel comfortable taking them home as soon as they are ready.