AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- Wanted: baby cuddlers.At UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, volunteers can sign up to comfort tiny babies who need time in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Your doctor and/or nurse decide when a baby is ready for a Cuddler. However, not all babies get to enjoy this mutual bond, especially premature babies. Cost, Schools, and Procedures, Best Online Ph.D. History Programs in the World | 2023, Admission Requirements, Tuition, Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Money | Format And Steps in 2023, 15 Best Colleges For Zoology in the World | Ranking 2023, Fully-funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for Students from Developing Countries In 2023, Volunteers must not be less than 18 years old. Under the guidance of medical staff members, you will learn how to calm fussy babies, thereby reducing their stress and helping to clear their path to recovery. All applications are reviewed and approved based on the need, as determined by the individual Kaiser Permanente Volunteer Services Departments. Then press 'Enter' or Click 'Search', you'll see search results as red mini-pins . When volunteer Bill Hardenberg arrives at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) each Tuesday afternoon, his mission is clear: to cuddle tiny patients until they settle down and fall asleep. Updated on January 23, 2020. Applications for the program open up in February. The experience also looks great on applications for healthcare-related degrees and helps you impress any relevant admissions boards. Nurses and lactation consultants will encourage you to collect and store breast milk until the baby can be fed by breast. To volunteer as a baby cuddler, you must be willing to sacrifice a minimum of three hours a week for at least eight months or a total of 100 hours. Heres a quick rundown of the roles volunteers play: There are also independent Summer Programs for both Adults and Teens that start in early June. Check that you meet the criteria and eligibility for each opportunity first. Complete a Google search to determine if your local hospital has a volunteer baby cuddler program. Volunteers at Children's Colorado make the hospital experience more normal and even special for kids. In order to volunteer as a hospital baby cuddler you will need to research programs in your area, apply to volunteer, and complete all training courses. Research source. Arrive for your interview on time and dress in a professional manner. You must be a person who is always ready to assist staff members with daily tasks. Enjoy! Center for Healthy Infant Lung Development (CHILD) ClinicThe team from the CHILD Clinic includes dedicated caregivers from many different specialties who will work together with your family to help your child develop healthier lungs. Over 25 years later, our cuddler group is over 60 strong and provides comfort to Covenant's tiniest patients 24 hours/day 7 days/week. There is no greater feeling, than knowing you are changing many lives, with your love and time. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Texas Children's Hospital is the first to be designated by the Texas Department of State . Must be ready to commit to a shift of one to two hours per week for six months. Volunteering Opportunities With more than 40 different areas to choose from, you can find a volunteer opportunity that fits your skills and interests. As a volunteer Cuddler, you can hold, swaddle and comfort infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), supplementing the visits of parents and staff. The best part? Stony Brook Children's Hospital: 3. NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola is aiming to dispatch up to 10 volunteers this summer, says Jean Zebroski, director of volunteer services. It is always a thing of joy for nurses to have an extra set of hands to hold and comfort babies when parents cant be at the bedside. NICU Volunteer Baby Cuddler Program Baby cuddlers must have had at least six months volunteer experience with us, and at least 100 volunteer hours. This is why baby cuddlers are needed the most. "You can tell that they are breathing easier. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. The completion of an application, which includes a medical reference signed by your physician. To understand the effect of cuddling on babies brains, some research has studied NICU infants somatosensory systems, which includes the sensory neurons and pathways that respond to changes such as pain and temperature. Cecile Porter was instrumental in creating the hospital's volunteer baby cuddler program. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Volunteer-As-a-Hospital-Baby-Cuddler-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Volunteer-As-a-Hospital-Baby-Cuddler-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Volunteer-As-a-Hospital-Baby-Cuddler-Step-1.jpg\/aid8485593-v4-728px-Volunteer-As-a-Hospital-Baby-Cuddler-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"