If you have the love and the time, you may find that your special calling in the world is being a “baby cuddler” at a local hospital. I’m going to tell you what that means and how you can help.
What Is a Baby Cuddler?
It is exactly what it sounds like. Volunteers go into NICU units in hospitals around the country and hold babies.
Sometimes babies in the NICU don’t have parents there with them 24/7. It’s understandable that Mom and Dad have to go home to be with their other kids, or go to a job, or just need to get some much-needed sleep. Having you stand in the gap and love on their baby when they can’t be there will give those parents so much solace.
Some babies are born of drug-addicted moms who may be neither willing nor capable of giving the special kind of love babies need. Those babies can suffer all sorts of horrible problems that fall under the heading of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
NAS may mean that a baby is born prematurely, or that it has seizures and/or birth defects. Some babies have tremors, tight muscles, vomiting, sleep problems, and trouble eating and breathing. Babies from moms who abused drugs are also prone to high-pitched, excessive crying.
If I’m being honest, it’s hard for me to even write about. Picturing those tiny, precious angels suffering from such violent and ugly problems hurts me so badly, I can barely think about it. You probably feel the same way.
Before I go any further, if you or someone you love is pregnant and addicted to drugs or alcohol, there is help for you. Talk to your doctor right away and click here to find help through your state.
As a baby cuddler volunteer, your job is to give babies what doctors say is so very important – skin to skin contact and human comfort.
You don’t walk around with the baby, nor do you feed it. You’ll sit with it and simply be present. You can sing, or talk, rock or pat. Doesn’t matter so long as that fragile treasure feels loved and safe in the arms of someone who cares.
The hospital where you volunteer will train you, but you already know the most important part.
Your love is genuinely healing.
When a baby is swaddled safely in the arms of someone who cares, science has proven again and again and again that healing is happening.
There is no higher calling than to love one another, and loving a baby is a legacy we can leave that could potentially last for generations. An infant who is loved can grow into a Mom or Dad who has children and then grandchildren.
How to Become a Baby Cuddler
Don’t expect to show up at a NICU and pick up a baby. For good reason, that’s not the way volunteering as a baby cuddler works.
Each hospital has its own rules and needs. Sometimes hospitals will call upon the public via TV interviews or on hospital websites. I would suggest that you call the hospitals in your area and speak to someone in charge of volunteer services.
You can also visit Born to Kuddle where you’ll find a state by state list of volunteering opportunities.
Would you like to be a baby cuddler? Have you already volunteered in a NICU? Please share your ideas and experiences in the comments. If you have additional info that would help folks find a way to help, tell us about it.
Leave a Review!
We LOVE hearing from you! Submit your question or comment here.
Your email address will not be published.
298 comments on “Please Volunteer to Be a NICU Baby Cuddler”
I would love to help i am the first person ever to ask for a cuddle of my friends babies after my two sons have grown up and grandchildren live south x i would feel honoured to volunteer
Karen Allen I have had experience with sick babies in the ICU. Born with problems or just too early. Just being able to give the parents a break,for a shower,or to eat something. Would love to help if needed .
I know what it’s like ti deal with a crying baby my son had a severe case of colic walked the floor with him for 6 weeks until he finally saw his doctor. So yeas I would love to volunteer to help out in the NICU to help these precious angels
I would love to do this
I would like to join this beautiful venture
I would love to be a baby cuddler
Good day
My name is Antoinette I would really like to volunteer Im busy studying child pshycology also childrens play therapy Im 55 years old and my passion is to help our children heal from trauma and also be their voice .Hope I can be part of this great oppertunity.
Sounds like a wonderful thing
I’m a mother of one. and I would love to dedicate my time to some of these children im from brooklyn new york.
My son was in the nicu for a week before he could come home. I would do anything to help these affected families through this trying time. Please consider me. NY/NJ area
As a NICU nurse who is well acquainted with NAS I need to ask that you please do not refer to infants who are suffering from drug withdrawal as “addicted”. Infants do not have the compulsion or “drive” that sets addiction apart from withdrawal. The mother may be addicted but the infant is not, the infant is withdrawing but is not addicted.
I am a grandfather of 4 grant children. There a lack of Love in this world and we need to give all the love we can.
I can’t think of a better time to give love then with cuddling a infinity
I have been a cuddler at NICU at Nebraska University Hospital in Omaha, NE until Covid.
I have been a NICU cuddler for several years now. It is the best thing I could ever do. My husband and I were foster parents for 8 years until he retired from the military. After that, we moved and decided not to foster anymore, but I still wanted to care for babies somehow. That is when I found out about cuddling. It is such a blessing.
I would love to be a baby cuddler. <3
This has been my vision for a long time…thanks for the conformation to get serious about this…
I always wanted to do this myself is there a place in ocean county.
Love to help available in Orlando and west Palm beach
I want to cuddle babies
Where are cuddles needed in the San fernando Valley Los Angeles area, please tell me
i would love to do this
I’m not sure if this is done in England but I would love to do this if they do, I work as a health care worker in the home care sector, I have 4 children but only 1 grandchild as yet, please could someone let me know if this is something I could get involved with, 2 of my children needed to use a special care baby unit or NICU & I would love to give something back.
I would Love to be a baby cuddler!!
This sounds so important to these little ones. I think it is something I would love doing.
One of my children was born 10 weeks early and I was in the nursery every day all day cuddling her until I had to go home and then I travelled back to do the same. I cuddled my 3 grandchildren when they were born all the time. It is so important. I would love to be considered please x
I would love to be a baby cudler. I have a tremendous love for these little angels. And I know I have so much love to give them. Like you say it is a special calling and would love to be part of this journey. What is the process please
I would love to volunteer to be a NICU cuddler
What a lovely thing to do
I worked in a hospital, not as a nurse but in the lab drawing blood. I had to take blood from a baby who was a couple days old. I asked the nurse where the mom was and they said she left. She was an addict and didn’t want the baby. That sweet little baby girl was shaking and crying. I sat and held her for about an hour, then went back after my shift was done. I have my own experience with a premature baby who was in the nicu. I loved that someone was able to love on him when I couldn’t.