For many families, a baby’s first Halloween means choosing a costume, taking pictures and celebrating at home. For parents with a newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the holiday can look very different.
During their newborn’s hospital stay, the annual Halloween celebration can give NICU families a meaningful break and offers a chance to make memories with their babies while remaining focused on their care.
At Temple Women & Families Hospital, the Level III, 42-bed NICU provides specialized care for premature and medically fragile newborns while supporting families’ involvement in their baby’s care. As part of that support, nurses work with family members to select costumes with each infant’s safety and comfort in mind. The annual celebration is about more than a costume or photograph; for families spending long days in the NICU, it offers a chance to connect with their baby and create a keepsake during what can be a difficult time.
“Families miss out on a lot of experiences and memories with their babies, and the Halloween costumes bring a little normalcy to their lives,” said Juliann O’Rourke, RN, one of the NICU nurses that helps lead the tradition.
For the nurses who care for these newborns every day, the celebration also reflects the relationships they build with families. That care begins with the clinical work of the NICU, but it extends beyond medical treatment. The team supports families through difficult days, answers questions, helps parents take part in their baby’s care and looks for meaningful ways to preserve moments that might otherwise be missed.
“The Halloween costumes give us an opportunity to let Temple Health babies shine,” said Ifetayo Roundtree, RN, a Temple Health NICU nurse that also assists with the Halloween Costume Event, “We also get to showcase how much love and care we have for our babies.”
A holiday celebration cannot change the circumstances that brought a baby to Temple Women & Families Hospital NICU, but amid the specialized care and long days in the hospital, small traditions like Halloween give families something to look forward to and a chance to stay connected with their baby. In a place where families are encouraged to take part in their baby’s care, these moments create room for joy, comfort and lasting memories.