Tiny Comforts in the NICU: How Miniboos are making a big difference

When Shannon and her partner Darren found out they were expecting, they could never have imagined the rollercoaster ride that awaited them. Their baby boy, also named Darren, was born 11 weeks early, weighing less than 2lbs.

It was a huge shock for the couple when a scan revealed that the baby’s umbilical cord wasn’t functioning properly. The decision was made that it was safer for him to be born early than for the pregnancy to continue.

“It was such a shock. One moment we were excited about our scan, and the next, we were heading to the hospital, not knowing what was going to happen.”

Immediately after birth, baby Darren was taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to receive specialist care. It was here that Shannon was introduced to Miniboos, funded by Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, that would help her bond with her newborn during those critical early days and beyond.

Miniboos are soft comforter blankets, designed to help babies in NICU feel close to their parents even when they’re apart. Shannon was given two Miniboos: one to keep inside her t-shirt and one for baby Darren to have in his incubator. Every day, the Miniboos were swapped over, allowing Darren to be comforted by his mum’s scent.

“It’s such a small thing, but it made a huge difference. Darren is so settled when he has his Miniboo that smells of me. He snuggles right up to it.”

For Shannon, the Miniboos provided comfort in more ways than one.

“When I have to be away from him during the night, having the Miniboo with his scent on it helps me feel connected to him. It’s also been a big help when I’m expressing milk for Darren and knowing that he has something close to him that smells like me gives me some peace of mind.”

The family have also benefited from other charity-funded projects like VCreate and Little Inky Feet. VCreate allows parents to receive pictures and videos of their babies when they can’t be at the hospital, while Little Inky Feet helps families create lasting memories through footprints, a special keepsake for parents like Shannon and Darren.

“These projects really make such a difference. Just a tiny thing like the Miniboos can make things feel a bit better and be so comforting, even during such a difficult time.”