Sadly, this year many families will spend their first Christmas with their baby in hospital due to being born premature or critically ill. On Christmas Day alone, each year around 132 babies are born requiring the specialised care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN).

Tommee Tippee, long standing supporter and Corporate Partner of Miracle Babies helps to provide support for families at Christmas time and has done for the last 5 years. Each year donating 1,500 Christmas Gifts for premature and sick newborns and their families.

All gifts are distributed by Miracle Babies Foundation, with the help of TLD Logistics, to NICUs and Special Care Nurseries across Australia. These are delivered in the lead up to Christmas and given to families in the NICU and SCN on Christmas Day.

While these gifts may not provide relief for these families, it can help to brighten their day and spread some Christmas cheer at this emotional and challenging time, along with a sense of hope as their baby remains in hospital.

Many families can spend weeks or months in the NICU or Special Care Nursery and this experience can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of the entire family. This is made even harder at Christmas time or on special occasions as are families also dealing being away from their other children, family members and spouses and are sometimes are faced with long commutes or added financial pressures as they try to spend as much time at the hospital, along with at home with the rest of the family.

You can help. Just $10 helps to provide a gift to one more family. Click here to provide a special gift to a family this Christmas. 

If you are in need of support over this time, our NurtureLine remains accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week and you can get in touch with our support team. Remember, this line is also open to dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, even close friends or other family members of the family. The support team are able to listen, share, understand and support families as they too understand the guilt, fear, anxiety and isolation of having a baby challenged by prematurity or sickness.