Creative ideas for gifts

[Allegra]

My husband and I welcomed our first little girl at the very end of October. Because she was born with a birth defect that needed immediate surgical correction, we spent a week in the NICU. My husband and I are very thankful for the help the nurses gave our daughter and are thoughts and prayers are often with the parents we met who were facing weeks and even months of their baby being in the NICU. We were hoping to bring something to the hospital for the families who are spending Christmas Eve and day there, but I’m having trouble thinking of something appropriate. Anything edible and homemade is out. The hospital doesn’t like feeding people from unknown sources. I was also thinking of some handmade ornaments, perhaps the kind that can have a photograph inserted. Does anyone have a brilliant idea that they would like to share for this project?

 

[Skyhighblue34]

Maybe things for the babies themselves? Like a toy of some sort.

 

[maryjk]

You say no food, but what about something that is wrapped or delivered from a reputable source?

I am thinking Edible Arrangements. Or a basket of Little Debbie’s.

I don’t know how your NICU was, when my son was in the NICU, we couldn’t stay by his bed all day. In fact, they limited time we could spend with him. So I would go to the hospital, visit or nurse, then sit in the waiting room until I could go back again. I would be at the hospital all day, but would only spend 15 minutes every hour with him.

I spent a lot of time reading, doing puzzle books and writing thank you notes to everyone that was helping.

What about a basket of stuff to do?

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

You say no food, but what about something that is wrapped or delivered from a reputable source?

I am thinking Edible Arrangements. Or a basket of Little Debbie’s.

I don’t know how your NICU was, when my son was in the NICU, we couldn’t stay by his bed all day. In fact, they limited time we could spend with him. So I would go to the hospital, visit or nurse, then sit in the waiting room until I could go back again. I would be at the hospital all day, but would only spend 15 minutes every hour with him.

I spent a lot of time reading, doing puzzle books and writing thank you notes to everyone that was helping.

What about a basket of stuff to do?

I like that idea! (I’d also appreciate a basket of little Debbie’s )

My little guy received a lovely crocheted blanket…

But I have no Idea if the OP can crochet or if she has the time to crochet…Maybe some nice onesies for the babies to keep? Instead of the cheapie ones that the hospitals provide.

 

[Allegra]

Those are great ideas, but our NICU is a little different. Each child has their own room, complete with a guest bed, a recliner, and a breast pump. When my child was there, I only left the room to get my food and medication. (Which the hospital refused to deliver to anywhere except my own room.) There is a parent lounge with showers and laundrey and coffee maker and plenty of things to do to pass the time. I would love to be able to crochet something for the babies, but they average between 40 and 50 patients and I can’t make enough that quickly. I’m trying to think of a craft that I could make enough of in a short amount of time. I’m leaning toward a picture frame ornament, but I’m trying to find some ideas of how to make a cute one.

PS- If that falls through, I might try a basket of pre-packaged snacks.

 

[maryjk]

Those are great ideas, but our NICU is a little different. Each child has their own room, complete with a guest bed, a recliner, and a breast pump. When my child was there, I only left the room to get my food and medication. (Which the hospital refused to deliver to anywhere except my own room.) There is a parent lounge with showers and laundrey and coffee maker and plenty of things to do to pass the time. I would love to be able to crochet something for the babies, but they average between 40 and 50 patients and I can’t make enough that quickly. I’m trying to think of a craft that I could make enough of in a short amount of time. I’m leaning toward a picture frame ornament, but I’m trying to find some ideas of how to make a cute one.

PS- If that falls through, I might try a basket of pre-packaged snacks.

Wow, that isn’t just a little different. That is majorly different.

The only time our parents stay with their baby is the night before the babies come home. Or if there was a big chance that your baby wouldn’t make it through the night. There were only two rooms with beds. They also had pumps, but nothing else. And no parent lounge. Mom and Dad go home for the night and show back up in the AM. The baby’s isolette was in a room with all of the other babies.

Okay, so maybe something for the families. Do you have a Hobby Lobby around you? Or a Michael’s? Either would be good for ideas. They might even have kits that you can put together rather than coming up with an idea on your own.

 

[Allegra]

Thanks for the ideas. I contacted the front desk at the NICU and apparently, I wasn’t the first person to have this idea. The hospital has already put together gift bags for the families who are there over Christmas, including providing toys to the older siblings! They are also providing a special dinner for the families and Santa is visiting. The lady at the desk offered a really good suggestion, that I make a donation to the hospital’s Ronald McDonald House, which provides a place to stay for parents who live more than 50 miles away. They also run the parent lounge in the NICU and provide the snacks, coffee, and clean towels in the showers. We hadn’t even thought of that, so I’m glad I called. I think that’s what we’re going to do.