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What to write in a card for a premature baby?

For family and friends of someone who’s had a premature baby - especially if baby is poorly - it can be hard to know what to do for the best.

You only have to look in online forums and Facebook groups to see many people asking questions like ‘my friend’s baby was premature and is in hospital, should I send a New Baby card?’, ‘My cousin’s premature baby is really poorly, what should I write in a card?’, ‘Is it insensitive to send a Congratulations card and gift when baby is in the NICU?’...

In this article we answer these questions, and give you advice on what to write and where to buy cards suitable for a premature baby.

Scroll down to see what some mums of premature babies say about how if felt to receive few gifts and cards for their premature baby.

Should I send a new baby card and gift to parent's of a premature baby? What if it's very poorly?

Should I send a new baby card and gift to parent's of a premature baby? What if it's very poorly?

This is a common question, and is an understandable consideration, but hopefully this answer helps you.

What do mums of premature babies say?

Look what these mums of premature babies said on Facebook about our premature baby cards and their own sad experiences of not receiving cards for premature babies.

Yes, please do send cards and gifts!

Firstly you most definitely should send a card and gift to someone who's had a very premature baby that is on the NICU or SCBU. Too often well-meaning friends and family delay getting anything for parents of a premature baby 'just in case', but these parents need support and messages of love even more than most.

In my time on the neonatal wards I've seen healthier babies and their parents surrounded by new baby cards and gifts, while babies in the NICU and SCBU have received very little and it's heartbreaking. With so much specialist premature baby clothing now available it's not hard to find a great gift.

See our Premature Baby Gift Buyer's Guide >>

What should I write in a card to parents of a premature baby?

What should I write in a card to parents of a premature baby?

I have heard the opinions of many parents of very premature and poorly babies and all they really want is acknowledgement of their new arrival, kind reassuring words for parents and baby, and messages to know that people are thinking of them and are there for them.

Examples of appropriate card messages (swipe left!)

Welcome to the world you little fighter, time to show Mummy and Daddy how big and brave you are even if that's not in size. 

Keep strong and keep fighting, you have so much love around you and always will.

We are wishing you and your little one lots of strength and good wishes for a swift homecoming

Best wishes to you and your brave little fighter. You've got this!

Looking forward to meeting your lovely little boy/girl when he's/she's graduated from the NICU

Congratulations on becoming parents. I realise this will be a difficult time for you, but we're here for you if there's anything we can do for you.

Just letting you know that we're thinking of you and your beautiful little baby and sending you all lots of love

Best wishes to you and your mini super hero.

We can't wait to see you and your beautiful little baby, but we appreciate that visiting might not be appropriate for a while, so for the time-being please accept this gift with our love

Sending you lots of love, and please know that any time you want to talk I'm here for you.

What to avoid writing in a premature baby card

If the baby is very poorly then a typical message of 'congratulations' or 'new baby' isn't appropriate, but there's lots of other words to express what you want to say. The one perhaps less obvious thing I would avoid is messages like "we are hoping to visit soon", because then the parents might feel that you are putting pressure on them at a time when they may want space, or they simply aren't allowed visitors and a reminder of this can be upsetting. But you can still say that you are really looking forward to meeting the little one when the time is right.

We can send a card with your message for you, along with a gift.

We can send a card with your message for you, along with a gift.

Our Gift Service is really popular - especially for premature baby gifts - and it's rated 5 stars on Trustpilot. We have a Premature Baby Gift Buyer's Guide too.

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