The touch of a hand, the embrace of a loved one – actions many tend to take for granted are essential to the development of newborns. Those who are born prematurely or with defects are sometimes stripped of that privilege.

Because the babies are often in the neonatal intensive care unit for a long time, often up to six months. Their families have to coordinate schedules to insure family presence around the clock. Many times though, the parents cannot frequent the NICU as much as they wish, leaving the babies with no one to nurture them.

Baby holders to the rescue!

Texas Children’s NICU is one of the largest, most experienced NICU’s in the country and cares for more than 2,000 infants each year. The program was created by Texas Children’s NICU to rally volunteers who would be willing to come to the hospital to hold babies. Such a simple and sweet act can change the life of a baby in need because the embrace of a human is vital to the development of a child.

The NICU also has basic nurses who monitor, feed and change the babies. These RN’s, however, do not always have time to give each child the attention they need. Nurse Lindsay Whittington said the staff is appreciative of the baby holders.

“We love our volunteers,” Whittington said. “They are the arms that get to hold the babies in the absence of the parents and help with the development of being loved and feeling safe. The babies deserve the nurturing and the volunteers make it happen.”

Volunteer Barry Karchmer said he always liked to hold babies.

“I was at a get together one day and a friend saw me holding someone’s baby and told me about the program.” Karchmer said.

Shortly after, he was part of the baby holding team.

“We’re auxiliary holders to the parents,” Karchmer said. “If we’re holding a baby and the parent shows up, we just (hand) their baby back.”

Training, testing

According to volunteer coordinator Tashona Russell, volunteers must first apply to be baby holders and go through an interview. They must be 21 or older due to maturity levels and if they are chosen, they must then have a TB test done as well as a background check. Following those steps, they must go through a training offered by experienced baby holders.

Russell said there are about 175 to 200 active baby holders in the Texas Children’s NICU who have put in a total of 5,500 hours since January, resulting in a lengthy waitlist.

“I heard about the program and went to Memorial Hermann to see if I could volunteer and they told me all I could do was clean cribs,” said volunteer Judy Parker. “But I didn’t want to clean cribs, I wanted to hold babies! So I called Texas Children’s and soon became a baby holder.”

Father of three-month-old Jacob, Mike Cordon, shared his thoughts on the baby holding program.

“I think it’s great,” Cordon said. “It’s nice to know that while my wife and I cannot be here, we have someone to give our baby the human touch.

“He has been here since the day he was born due to his prematurity,” Cordon explained. “I’m thankful to the baby holders who get to be with him.”

Cordon said his family hoped their son would be home for the holidays.

The volunteers are aware of how important they are to each baby’s development that is the exact reason they are a part of the program.

“These babies are sick and stressed,” Karchmer explained. “It’s a nice feeling to know you can comfort and calm them down.”

Parker added, “It’s very fulfilling to be able to give a child the most basic human connection.”