Sarah’s health notes: Baby love
Oh the excitement! My godson and his partner have had their first baby. Seven weeks early in special care unit but Marlow is doing very well. So, as a grand-godmother, it was immediately online to look at the Premature Baby Products from Cuski.
In 2016, Suzy Cannizzo, founder of Cuski, partnered with Sister Claire Ellerby from the Special Care Baby Unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary to design Claire’s Nest, a small carrycot with wide straps that goes inside an incubator.
‘It has safe, soft boundaries to keep the baby stable and provide a secure, cuddled environment to sleep and grow in,’ explains Claire. Made from ultra-soft, washable combed cotton, the Nest comes in four sizes up to 50cm long inside. NB This can only be used in hospital under medical supervision. (The midwives at the unit where Marlow is are delighted that he’s going to have a Claire’s Nest.)
Back in 2014, Sister Claire spotted the potential of a Cuski Miniboo baby comforter. Coming into the world after spending nine months in a warm, dark, secure womb is a huge change for any baby. For the 88,000 premature babies born annually, who spend their first days in an incubator rather than skin-to-skin with their mother, it can be very stressful. Having a pair of Miniboos means that parents can help connect with their babies using the powerful effect of smell.
It’s an ongoing, two-way process as Cuski founder Suzy Cannizzo explains: ‘The mother keeps one Miniboo on her person to pick up all those mummy smells and then puts it next to the baby in the incubator, swapping it for the second Miniboo which has spent time with the baby already.’ So off went a pair of pale blue Miniboos to Marlow. I also picked out a 4-pack of bamboo muslin Mini Swandoodles – in a ‘Rock Star’ pattern, which seemed fitting.
After three months, babies graduate to full-size Cuskiboos/£16.99. A friend’s baby grandson in Australia adored his Cuskiboo so much, we had to send them several more in case one got lost. Now, whenever someone has a baby I send them a Cuskiboo immediately.
Finally, something for Marlow’s mum who definitely needs a bit of a treat. So onto the Mama Mio section at Mio skincare for a Mama Mio Sleep Easy Kit/£45 (value £57 if individual items).
