Share your insights around educating families on early mobility of their NICU baby. 

***Early mobility supports getting babies out of bed sooner when safe and appropriate. 

How do you explain the importance of early mobility to families? What messaging or strategies have you found helpful in helping families feel comfortable with getting their baby up and out of bed when appropriate?

• We get PT and OT consults on every admission but are limited d/t staffing to get to babies and families as early as we’d like. I work hard to train all nurses, especially in our most acute area, and they will often reach out with infants and parents who are struggling. Often, I can show appropriate touch, movement, positioning (including first upright), then staff and family will feel more confident.
• Early teaching and demonstration with parents and returning demos.
  Parent understanding that their baby may be little but is mighty and would thrive and grow with parental holding and love more than with staff. They should be considered equal partners in their baby’s care.
• Verbal discussions
• I show them!! The families LOVE seeing how well the infants respond both physiologically and socially, and although are often very hesitant (appropriately), they all want to be able to do this too. Hand over hand is next, then coached independence with a nurse present. I have been working in a Level IV NICU for over 20 years to develop our Rehab Therapies program and parents are my best partners! Of course I have to have the trust and “buy in” from the bedside nurses, but most of the neonatologists promote early mobility as long as it is within our SOP.
• Focus on the benefits of skin to skin contact. I find the nurses’ attitudes and comfort make all the difference with how comfortable and willing the families are; meet them where they are at and be patient and gentle with them.