Helpful ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for Supporting Premmies and their Families

Having a family member or friend with a premature baby can be overwhelming and stressful. Knowing just how to be a supportive friend, or family member can be difficult. Miracle Babies Foundation – Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them – has prepared a comprehensive list of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ to help guide you to be a supportive friend. Here are some of their tips, and to see the full list please visit

• Congratulate parents on the birth of their baby.
• Be there for the parents and show your continued support. Many parents are inundated with phone calls and visits in the first couple of weeks but then these reduce as time goes on.
• Many mums who have a premature baby miss out on having a baby shower. If you had been planning a baby shower see if you can still go ahead with the party, just before baby is due to come home from hospital may be very timely.
• Try not to compare the family’s situation or experiences with another baby. Every family’s journey is unique and some parents cope better with the NICU experience than others.
• If the family requests the need for privacy respect their wishes. Some parents may not be at a place to openly discuss their baby’s birth or their condition.
• It’s important to understand that while their baby is in hospital they will be doing all they can to spend time with their baby. They may not be up to attending upcoming gatherings such as birthday parties.

To see Miracle Babies Foundation’s full list of ‘Dos and Don’ts’
please visit https://www.miraclebabies.org.au/families/in-hospital/extended-family-friends/