Every year, between 10 and 15 percent of babies have to go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) [1] before going home. I'm a mom of three, and two of my babies had NICU stays [2]. One of my sons was born with a genetic condition and a heart defect; the other was born with posterior urethral valves [3], and the days inside the NICU [4] were some of the longest of my life.
NICU staff members are incredible, and if there's a silver lining to being a NICU parent [5], it's that you're witnessing miracles happen every single day. However, days inside the NICU can be emotional, scary, stressful, and boring. Not to mention, the NICU can be an incredibly uncomfortable place to be. Families are normally assigned one chair in a cramped space where beeping alarms are part of an ever-present soundtrack. Friends and family want to help, but often don't know how. With two NICU stays under my parenting belt, here are the gifts my husband and I appreciated the most.
Uber Gift Cards
By far, the most helpful gift we received during our most recent NICU stay was an Uber gift card. Parking at children's hospitals can be expensive and sometimes they don't have a re-entry option. Uber gift cards allowed us to leave the hospital for short periods without the added expense. We also used the gift cards for food delivery with Uber Eats. Sometimes there's only so much hospital food you can take! The flexibility of being able to use an Uber gift card for transportation or a good meal you can get delivered makes this a winning gift for NICU parents.
Buy an Uber gift card [7] here.
Cute, Comfy Clothes
One of the most treasured gifts a friend gave me during our second NICU stay was a pair of cute leggings with a matching shirt. As previously mentioned, the NICU can be an uncomfortable place to be, so I craved comfort, but I also needed clothes I felt confident in when advocating for our son's care. Same goes for dads! A nice looking yet comfortable sweater will be used and appreciated.
Wireless Phone Chargers and Headphones
Again, NICU spaces are often cramped and noisy. Sometimes, finding a place to plug in your phone can be challenging. Allow your loved one to go outlet-free when charging their phone with a wireless phone charger. You can also help them escape the beeping machines for a bit with a pair of wireless headphones or a set they can easily plug into their phone. This wireless phone charger [8] ($15) is a great gift option.
Gift Cards to the Hospital Cafeteria or Nearby Restaurants
Although the hospital cafeteria can get old (even if it is a really good one!), your friend or family member will likely eat most of their meals there. Contact the hospital to see if their cafeteria has a gift card option. You can also buy gift cards to nearby restaurants within walking distance.
Books, Magazines, and Journals
Getting lost in a book or magazine for a bit can make a day inside the NICU a bit more enjoyable. Also, having a journal with pens and highlighters not only serves as a way for parents to write down their thoughts, but it can help your friend keep a daily log of medical notes.
Large Tote or Backpack
Oftentimes, once parents arrive at the hospital, they want to stay for a while. A large tote or a backpack that can fit a variety of items (possibly clunky breast pump parts) helps make the day go more smoothly. Here are some large tote options via Amazon [9].