From the Heart: Supporting Caregivers in the NICU

From the Heart is a caregiver-focused resource developed to support parents and caregivers with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This resource was developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together perspectives from parents with lived NICU experience and professionals across multiple sectors.

Through evidence-informed guidance, From the Heart highlights the important role caregivers have as part of their baby's care team. The resources encourage early attachment and connection by supporting meaningful caregiver-infant interaction, even within the NICU environment. By strengthening early relationships during a baby's NICU stay, From the Heart aims to support infant development while also helping caregivers feel more confident and informed.

Admission into the NICU is often a stressful experience for both infants and caregivers. Medically fragile infants are at increased risk for emotional, cognitive, and developmental challenges, while caregivers may experience worry, uncertainty, and a reduced sense of control in a complex medical environment.

Research consistently shows that early relationships and responsive interactions play a critical role in supporting infant regulation, attachment, brain development, and long-term outcomes. Caregiver presence, voice, and gentle touch can help infants feel safe and supported, promote co-regulation, and enhance language and sensory development. These interactions also strengthen caregiver confidence and connection, supporting meaningful participation in care.

Developmental and family-integrated care approaches in NICUs emphasize the importance of caregiver involvement as part of high-quality neonatal care. However, caregivers may not always receive clear, practical guidance on how their everyday interactions contribute to their baby's development. From the Heart helps translate these evidence-based principles into accessible, caregiver-focused support.

Booklet: From the Heart - Parenting Your Baby in the NICU

A comprehensive caregiver booklet, provided digitally for convenient use and distribution throughout the NICU. The booklet is available in:

• Web-viewer format
• Printable PDF format
• Full colour and greyscale versions
• French version

Poster Series for NICU Units

A digital file for a companion set of posters designed for display within the NICU to reinforce key messages from the booklet. Posters are available in:

• 8.5 x 11 inches
• 11 x 17 inches
• Portrait and landscape orientation
• French version

Video

Upon purchase, users will receive access to a short video that illustrates how to use the booklet and poster series within the NICU setting.

While caregivers are the primary users of From the Heart, the impact extends across the NICU environment:

• Infants, through strengthened early relationships that support regulation, attachment, and development
• Caregivers, through increased confidence, clarity, and connection during this time
• Clinical teams, through enhanced caregiver engagement and greater alignment in care
• NICU units and hospitals, by reinforcing family-integrated and developmental care practices and promoting early relational health

From the Heart is designed to be used during a baby's stay in the NICU, alongside routine medical care.

The booklet can be used flexibly and at the caregiver's own pace, allowing families to engage with the content in ways that feel manageable during the NICU experience.

The poster series is intended to be displayed within the NICU environment, reinforcing key messages and supporting a caregiver-inclusive care culture.

Upon purchase, a short video is provided to guide caregivers and NICU teams in using the resources together.

To place an order, complete the order form. After the form is submitted, our team will follow up by email with an invoice to complete your order.

For questions, custom requests, or inquiries about poster sizes or formats, please contact: iemhp.mail@sickkids.ca

Once payment is received, you will receive a downloadable package containing all From the Heart materials, delivered by email or secure file transfer.