Infant Development in the NICU:A Resource for Families and Staff

BABY STEPS

Educational booklets designed for our NICU families and staff.

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These booklets will provide useful information regarding developmentally appropriate care for preterm infants, and

appropriate activities for post term infants.

WHAT ARE THE BABY STEPS DEVELOPMENTAL BOOKLETS?

Address NICU parent survey results: Many NICU parents want information about when and how they can

participate in their baby’s care. Booklets provide NICU parents with info about appropriate activities

for their infant (touching, holding, diapering, kanga care, etc.)

Provide increased NICU parent and staff education: There are two versions of the baby steps booklet – a simplified

‘short’ version for each NICU bedside, and an expanded text version for families that desire additional developmental care information.

Staff will have a heightened awareness of appropriate activities for individual NICU babies based on their gestational age and can use Baby Steps for teaching family members.

GOALS OF BABY STEPS

Condensed information from expanded text booklet.Easy ‘flip-style’ design.Color coded to match sections in expanded text version.Laminated for easy cleaning with germicidal wipes.Developed by a team of nurses.

*Parents that want more information can be given full text version to review.

TWO VERSIONS OF BABY STEPS

Simplified ‘Short’ Version

Expanded ‘Full Text’ VersionThe 1st half of this version is a purchase resource entitled:

“Parenting Based on the Developmental Progression of Preterm Infants” This half will provide expanded info about skills & activities for preterm infants from <26wks – 40wks.

The 2nd half of this version was written by our own developmental therapists: This half will provide expanded info on skills & activities for post term infants from>40wks gestation.

Also laminated for easy cleaning with germicidal wipes.

TWO VERSIONS OF BABY STEPS

Parent may use booklets to:Gain general knowledge about their baby at each gestational age.Ask appropriate questions about the care their baby receives. Understand their part in the day-to-day care of their baby

Nurses may use booklets to:Teach family members how to care for their baby.Coach family members that may be displaying inappropriate care for their very preterm infant.Help families plan for and know what to expect from their baby at each gestational age. Improve patient care – Heightened awareness of appropriate care for your patient.

USE OF DEVELOPMENTAL BOOKLETS

A parent/caregiver may ask:Can I touch my baby?When can I hold my baby?What is my baby supposed to be doing?When will my baby be able to ____?When can I give my baby a bath?Can I bring toys/clothes for my baby?

EXAMPLE QUESTIONS THAT MAY LEAD TO INITIATION OF BABY STEPS BOOKLETS

Remember:Detailed information can be

overwhelming for NICU families. Encourage family members to

read and focus on information for their baby’s current adjusted age.

Simplified ‘Short’ Version

At each NICU bedside attached to the monitor or bed.Please disconnect booklet to allow parents/caregiver to read.When parent/caregiver is finished reading, please clean with germicidal wipe and reattach booklet for future use.

Expanded ‘Full Text’ Version

In magazine holder at the front of each Pod. At nurses’ stations in South Wing.Please clean with germicidal wipe after family use. Color coded paper copies of the info in the expanded text booklet are available at the Main NICU desk in organized trays on top of the filing cabinet.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE BABY STEPS BOOKLETS?

Preprinted color-coded copies are

available at the Main NICU secretary’s

desk.

Stacking trays atop the filing cabinet…

Find copies of the information from the Baby Steps booklets

here!

Use adjusted ages when referring to booklets. Each patient’s adjusted age can now be found in the daily

team progress note.

Example:If I have a patient who is DOL #119 and the patient was born at 24 weeks gestation. I divide 119 by 7 (119÷7) to equal 17 weeks post birth. Then, I would take the 17 weeks and add it to the gestational age at birth, which in this case is 24, (17+24) to get 41 weeks adjusted gestational age. So, this patient is one week old post term.

(DOL ÷ 7) + Gest age (wks) @ birth = Adj Gest age (wks)

REMINDERS

Toys are located in the pass through closet at the back of Pod 9.

STOP! Before you get a toy. Think about whether it is appropriate for the baby’s developmental age.

Babies cannot focus on a lot of toys at once. Do not hang multiple toys in front of the babies. Instead, rotate the toy they have in front of them.

Feel free to contact Child Life for questions or assistance with providing toys at the bedside.

MORE REMINDERS

The BABY STEPS booklets are for temporary parent use at the bedside.

Please don’t give our booklets away!If your parents want a copy of the information

contained the BABY STEPS booklets,…Please obtain a preprinted copy from the

organized stacking trays atop the filing cabinet behind the main NICU secretaries desk.

IMPORTANT!

THANK YOU!

Your Developmental Therapists are here to help. Feel free to ask

us questions and use us as a resource. We want to work

together to provide developmentally appropriate

care for the babies.It is good for everyone!