small activity books for the parents (crosswords, word search, etc.)

pocket journals for making notes for doctors

pens

travel size toiletries (particularly lotion from the dry hands from all the hand-washing, hand sanitizer, chapstick, toothbrush/toothpaste

individually wrapped snacks (pop-tarts, mini donuts, granola bars, crackers, etc.)

Kleenex

books to read to babies

refillable water bottles

Crochet octopus (this gives the babies something to hold on to and helps prevent them from pulling out their tubes)

Fitted sheet for the beds ( details below)

Isolette covers

Crocheted scent squares (the mothers wear these and get their scent on them and bring them back for the babies to sleep with)

Sewn felt bonding hearts (same purpose as the scent squares above)

Books for older siblings when visiting

Milestone cards for the parents to use as photo props (can be found on our Amazon List)

We are in need of crafters to help with some of the supplies requested by our NICU’s. We need crochet crafters and those that can sew as well! See below for more details regarding the items needed.

Fitted crib sheets are needed for Mercy, Willow Creek and Washington Regional.

Washington Regional & Willow Creek have two different mattress types. The dimensions can be found on our Facebook page with a photo from the nurses.

These are special purpose covers used by staff in the NICU and special care nurseries. They are used to lay over an Isolette to control the light environment of the neonate which is critical to the babies neurological development and needs while in the hospital.

These fabric bonding hearts serve the same purpose as the scent squares. These are made of fabric (traditionally flannel) to absorb the mothers scent and then placed in the crib for the babies to bond.

Scent squares are great bonding material for moms and the babies. The purpose is for the mother to wear the squares (often in her bra) so that they become filled with her scent. The squares are then placed in the crib with the baby so they can smell their mother/parent.

• The NICU octopus is one of the items requested by the local NICU staff. These give the babies something other than their inserted tubes and attached wires to hang on to and hopefully prevents them from pulling those tubes out or detaching their wires. These octopus are single-use since they cannot be properly sanitized. Because of this, the octopus will be a constant need for our local NICU’s.

• 100% cotton yarn - #3 weight.

• The less pigmented yarn the safer.

• If you choose to add any facial features to the octopus, please make sure it’s all made from yarn/thread so that it doesn’t pose any risks (ex: no plastic eyes).

• Stitches should be made as tight as possible for safety.

• If you or anyone you know can crochet here is a free pattern!

Solid white onesies in newborn and preemie sizes with creative NICU phrases such as “NICU Warrior” , “Tiny but Mighty” , etc. For Christmas we love "My First Christmas" .This would be a great project for anyone with a Cricut machine.

We previously had a crafter donate custom ornaments for the babies for our Christmas stocking deliveries. We will need a total of 79 ornaments made for the 2022 Christmas delivery.