Volunteers Snuggle Tiniest Patients

Jane Kelsey, Michael McNearney and Fredia Price agree they have the best job in the hospital, and they do it for free. The three retirees volunteer for the hospital’s Cuddle Program.

Just as the name implies, cuddlers hold, soothe and console infants when families can’t be present. Cuddlers rock and sit with newborns while they talk, sing and read to them. They don’t feed, change or walk with the babies during the four-hour shifts.

“The RNs in the NICU asked for this program because they understand the clinical benefits,” explained Catherine Bonderer, MSN, MBA, NE-BC, senior director of Maternal Child.

The human touch helps a baby’s social, emotional and physical development. It also builds trust, lessens stress, improves weight gain, fosters brain development and reduces length of stay. Human contact is especially beneficial for premature babies, infants withdrawing from maternal drug use and those admitted with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

For Michael and Fredia, newborns fill a void left by their now adult grandchildren. For Jane, the babies let her experience a part of parenthood.

Michael retired from business and says being a cuddler 
is his best job ever.

One recent morning, a nurse handed Fredia a fussy 3-day-old baby boy. “What’s the matter Buster Brown,” Fredia said softly. “Don’t cry.” The baby quieted and slept contently in Fredia’s arms. For 20 years, Fredia worked as an LPN in Labor and Delivery at North Kansas City Hospital. She always told coworkers she wanted to come back and rock the babies. “Holding a baby brings back so many memories. I feel like a grandma again,” she said. “I feel a lot of love for these babies.”

Without children of her own, Jane describes holding the babies as “the best feeling in the world.” Like Fredia and Michael, she cuddles NICU and well nursery babies. She’s not uncomfortable with the tubes and monitors that often accompany NICU infants. “Some of these babies weigh less than a sack of sugar,” Jane smiled. “It makes you feel so good to help the nurses, parents and babies.”

Michael holds babies four days a week. He remembers being ecstatic when asked about participating in the program. “I almost fell out of my chair,” he laughed. “If there were more days available, I would take them.” A business owner before retiring, Michael describes being a cuddler as his best job ever. “This makes me feel so humbled and grateful that I can help contribute to the health of an infant,” he said.

Volunteer cuddlers complete an interview and selection process; undergo a background check and physical to ensure they have appropriate immunizations; and receive a flu shot. They are trained in safety, confidentiality, infection prevention and hand-washing protocols.

There are currently no openings for the Cuddle Program, but if you'd like to volunteer at the hospital, complete the Volunteer Form.

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Kim Shopper

Kim has worked at NKCH for nearly 40 years where she produces the employee newsletter and manages internal campaigns. She is a board member for the Kansas City Health Communicators, and she is passionate about animal rescue and volunteers for the Parkville Animal Shelter.