The Kid Cuddler Program was designed to assist unit staff with meeting the numerous and urgent needs of hypersensitive infants, specifically those infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).  The program was established in the spring of 2006 when our inpatient medical units experienced a high influx of NAS patients. 

NAS patients are oftentimes highly irritable, experience sleep problems, have unstable body temperatures, rapid breathing, and poor feeding and suck reflexes as they withdraw from narcotics.  These stress responses are triggered by bright lights, loud sounds, quick movements, and the anxiety or stress felt by their caregiver.  Clearly, a typical hospital environment is not well-suited for this type of sensitivity! 

A low stimulation environment, including a quiet room, dim lighting, soft sounds, gentle movements and soft colors and textures is ideal.  Infants with NAS often calm quickly with swaddling, rocking and sucking on a pacifier.  However, because of the infant's poorly coordinated suck, they often have trouble keeping the pacifier in their mouth.  When the infant loses its pacifier he/she becomes upset, and in the process, loosens the swaddling.  If an infant with NAS is not calmed quickly, they may experience tremors, seizures and vomiting.  It is a time consuming, demanding, and stressful cycle for staff to sustain!

Sensing a high level of stress from unit staff, a brief call for volunteers was put in the hospital's monthly newsletter.  The article called for staff who were willing to spend 30 minutes or so per week holding and rocking an infant.  We received an overwhelming response!  The majority of our Kid Cuddler volunteers came from non-patient care departments - accounting, administration, medical records, marketing and development.  These staff were excited to have the opportunity to have a direct impact on patient care.  Many volunteered to come in 30 minutes before or after their shift and others came to the units during their lunch hour. 

A short orientation session was held to review the types of patients the Kid Cuddlers would work with, as well as the needs and triggers of that population.  Infection control, general infant safety, confidentiality and how/when to seek help were reviewed. Because all hospital employees already have CORI checks, signed confidentiality agreements and up-to-date TB tests, we were able to avoid many of the delays other volunteers experience. 

We have had great success with consistency in our Kid Cuddler program.  Employees are excited to spend time with the infants and truly look forward to it!  The unit staff have been quite positive when talking about the program as well.  They feel that the support and care the Kid Cuddlers provide is exceptional.  

For more information about this program, please contact Colleen Hynes at Colleen.Hynes@childrens.harvard.edu