First Book Canada - books for NICU babies and grads (Sunnybrook)
At Sunnybrook our early literacy program focuses on getting books into the hands of NICU babies (or parents who will read to them!) and NICU graduates.
Most of our books are purchased from First Book Canada, a non-profit that provides new books and educational resources, at low cost or at shipping cost only, to schools and programs serving children in need, from birth to age 18.
https://www.fbmpcanada.org/index.php/register
Our eligibility is based on giving these books for free to NICU babies and NICU graduates and the rationale below. (Feel free to cite any part of the bolded in order to make your case for your NICU's eligibility when registering with First Book Canada.)
Our NICU and Follow Up Program serves preterm infants, a population at higher risk of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the inattentive subtype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, avoidant personality, and anti-social personality. Preterm infants are also at increased risk for language, cognitive, sensory and motor deficits. (Hee Chung E, Chou J, Brown KA. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants: a recent literature review. Transl Pediatr. 2020)
For the population primarily served by our healthcare program, developmental impairment can already be seen prior to the infants leaving the NICU on standardized assessments. (Pineda, Bobbi. (2023, April 26) All Care is Brain Care: Positioning and Handling [Webinar]. The Vermont Oxford Network.)
Our Neonatal Follow Up Clinic serves former patients of our NICU, providing diagnoses, services, and specialist referrals to support children with a disability and their families.
A new book is an educational (and Infection Prevention and Control-friendly) inclusion in an orientation/welcome bag, and a great gift for any holiday or special occasion (e.g. World Prematurity Day, NICU read-a-thons, kangaroo-a-thons). It encourages family bonding and stress reduction through parents reading to their babies, and provides a normalizing experience for families during the abnormal experience of separation from their baby due to NICU hospitalization.
Addition, April 2025: a First Book Canada representative advised me that they are approving applications where 70% or more of the population served is low income.