Being in the NICU with one or both of your twinnies during a holiday or a special milestone (like turning a new month old) may have you feeling down. But don’t worry, we asked other twin parents what they did to make these moments still feel special! Keep reading for a loving dose of NICU celebration inspiration.
We recently asked our community of twin parents how they managed to honor all of those special milestones and holidays while dealing with a NICU stay.
And here’s what they had to say:
“For their 100th day, we bought “100” balloons and brought party hats.” — Karen
“Themed pictures with milestone plaques/cards!” — Kendyll
“Always celebrated to remember those memories most.” — Meghan
“I kept a log and entered it all into their baby journals.” — Angela
“Don’t worry, NICU twins are all fighters. Strong kids with even stronger minds.” — Tarriq
“We wore our Christmas pajamas to the NICU to visit them on Christmas Day!” — Amanda
“Special outfits and the hospital decorated for holidays. For us it was 4th of July.” — Karen
“Father’s Day they made cards with photos for Dad and we spent the day there making the best of it.” — Lindsay
“We liked to bring treats to the nurses as a thank you! It helped us feel less sad and more grateful.” — Addison
“We spent Easter and Mother’s Day there. For Easter, the nurses were so kind and made sweet little cards out of the babies’ footprints.” — Paige
More tips for celebrating NICU milestones and holidays from the hospital
1. Ask your team of NICU nurses to help
From my own experience and other NICU parents I’ve come across, there’s a common theme: so much gratitude for the NICU nurses. Ask your twins’ nurses to help out!
Whether it’s with assisting you with maneuvering around cords or having them help you hold your baby who’s on oxygen, more than likely, they will be glad to help you take pictures or put on cute outfits for special occasions.
When my twins turned two months old, our NICU nurses helped us by putting on a photoshoot since we missed out on doing the typical newborn photos while being in the hospital. It took almost an hour to do both kids with the outfit changes and setup, but it made for a fun (as fun as the NICU can be) afternoon that we now have as a precious memory.
2. Get some fun NICU milestone cards
To remember those special moments in the NICU–like breathing or eating on their own for the first time–or graduating and getting to go home, go grab yourself some special NICU milestone cards.
You can use them to take pictures with your twins on those memorable occasions or and keep them in a special photo album or keepsake box.
3. Keep a NICU journal to record those big and small NICU milestones
One of my biggest regrets as a parent to preemie twins who had a 3 month NICU stay was not keeping a journal to record everything. I don’t remember why I didn’t bring myself to do it because a mom in the same NICU pod as us would write in hers daily.
But don’t make the same mistake I did and go get yourself a NICU journal so you can keep track of all those pivotal moments as well as your own reflections and memories throughout your twins’ NICU stay.
4. Bring some festive treats or decorations along
Your babies won’t have any memory of this time period, but you will. If there’s a particular holiday or occasion that’s important to you, do something special that will allow you to keep the spirit of the tradition alive!
Whether it’s baking a special dessert to share with your NICU nurses and other NICU families or bringing along some festive flowers or decor (without breaking any safety guidelines), those small gestures can go a long way in brightening an otherwise standard day in the NICU.
Need some twin parent friends? Get the support you need with a Twiniversity Membership. Benefits include a monthly twin parent club meeting on Zoom, access to a private Facebook group just for twin parents, and a video library of twin parenting lessons. Visit Twiniversity.com/membership to join today!
5. Read a special holiday-themed story to your twins
Most NICUs will have a stash of books that you can borrow to read to your babies. Ask around to see if they have any holiday-themed books you can use, or borrow one from your own local library and bring it in!
Reading to babies in the NICU may seem like a small thing, but reading to babies is great for their health, and having an on-theme book will help you feel like you’re putting them onto the traditions that matter to you and your family.
Want more ideas and inspiration for surviving your twins’ NICU stay? Check these out too:
- Where to Find the Best Preemie Clothes for Your Preterm Twins
- Tips to Ease Your NICU Stress and Anxiety
- Our Time in the NICU Was an Unexpected Blessing
Paige Figueroa is a mom to fraternal twins. After teaching English for 9 years, she now works from home as a content marketing strategist and entrepreneur so she can spend more time with her children. She loves helping other moms and women enjoy more freedom in their lives by monetizing their passions. You can follow her on IG and TikTok @mombossfreedom.
