Sibling visitors in the NICU

[CRDBear]

Hi All!

I am a relatively new NICU nurse (6 months - did adults for 5 years) and have learned a TON from this forum. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions about how to get siblings involved when they visit/any unit-based things that anyone does for siblings. Heres why - Today I was caring for a 27 weeker vented who desats with cares (I know..big surprise). His parents brought his eight year old brother to visit b/c it was sibling visitation. They were obviously wrapped up in the new baby and the poor brother was bored out of his mind after about five minutes. He kept trying to stroke his brothers head when I got him out for kangaroo care and whatnot and the parents were shooing him away. I felt bad because he wanted to help...he even asked me if he could help! I had a light day so I was talking to about his video games he liked and get him involved by having him get me blankets from the isolette drawer and taking him with me to find a hat for his brother. Finally, I grabbed some crayons and paper from the charge room and set him up to draw a picture for his brother. Part of the problem was that he was being a little loud because he was excited and his brother was desatting because of all the commotion in the bay! He did quiet down when I explained why it was important to be quiet around the babies.

I almost wish one of the parents had been doing this rather than just shushing him and ignoring him but I'm not trying to judge. I was just wondering if anyone else had any suggestions/ideas for siblings because I feel that they often can get ignored when they come to visit. They probably dont want to be stuck there and if the parents don't bring quiet activiites for them to do, they can act up...they're kids after all! Thanks for putting up with my long post!

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

I like to involve older siblings as much as possible. Like you did, involve them in changing linens, diapers, holding supplies for you, helping with baths, etc. We have a little girl in our unit who has made a little NICU at home in her room consisting of her dolls in box "isolettes", complete with namecards, a "bili light" (desk lamp) get this... a nursing assignment book. (I asked what her ratios were like, since I might consider working for her instead) I give her her brother's old equipment, like nasal cannulas, bili masks, preemie diapers, caps, and she adds them to her collection. I think that it's so cute!

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I hate when parents bring in a sibling and then ignore them. Ugh. We have set a 30 minute rule into effect because of this. Most kids can't stand it more than that, but there are the exceptions :) We also will cut the visit short if we have to entertain their other kids too much....got enough to do without having to police ambulatory kids.

We also have a child life specialist that comes in on days or evenings and she will take the kids to the older kid play areas. She is a great assest to us! Does your hospital offer child life people?

[littleneoRN]

I like to tell parents that they should plan certain visits specifically for siblings. The parents can plan a separate visit for themselves that same day. When they bring the sibling in, then their priority is that sibling, at helping them visit the new baby. They need to help that child process what they are seeing, and the visit needs to be short to accomodate the child's attention span. It doesn't seem to work out very well if parents are wanting to spend time one on one with the baby while siblings are there. It is nice if they can bring another adult who can take the siblings on a walk or to the cafeteria or a play area after a short visit while the parents get their one on one time.