This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. This post is sponsored by Huggies. All opinions are mine alone. #HuggiesHelps #Hugs4Huggies #DiaperNeed #CollectiveBias


It’s so hard to believe that Zephaniah is five-months-old now. My how fast time flies!

The other day I was looking at his newborn photos and I was amazed at how much different he looked. It’s only been a few months and already my little baby has changed so much. I texted one of the photos to my mom and wrote, “I already miss Zephaniah when he was this little!”

Watching Zephaniah grow has its bittersweet moments. On one hand, I am overjoyed to watch him mature. While on the other hand, I don’t want him to grow up just yet because I love my time with him while he is still a baby.

Huggies No Baby Unhugged
I know first hand what it feels like to have a baby in the NICU. I love Huggies No Baby Unhugged Program because it helps many babies who are in the NICU.

Zephaniah’s NICU Experience

One memory I have of Zephaniah is from after his birth when we were in the hospital. The day after his birth Zephaniah was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for emergent health reasons. It was such an emotional time for Travis, the kids, and I. I remember feeling so helpless because my baby’s health issues were out of my control.

I went to the NICU for almost every feeding for Zephaniah because I wanted to hold him and try to nurse him. The nurses in the NICU were very encouraging and supportive. One nurse even helped me with breastfeeding because I was having trouble getting Zephaniah to latch. She cheered him on saying, “Come on, buddy, I know you can do it.”

The nurse also talked to each baby in the NICU as she cared for them. It was very touching to see and it also made me feel good in knowing when I wasn’t visiting Zephaniah in the NICU, there was someone taking the time to talk to him and encourage him to get better.

I went to the NICU for almost every feeding for Zephaniah because I wanted to hold him and try to nurse him. The nurses in the NICU were very encouraging and supportive.

 Holding Zephaniah and Skin-to-Skin Contact Crucial for Him to Thrive

At one feeding a nurse said to me, “You don’t have to come down for every feeding if you don’t want to. You can have his milk (breast milk) sent down here and we’ll feed him so you can get some rest.” I knew she was right, but I wanted to be there at every feeding so I could hold him. I knew holding Zephaniah was important for him to thrive.

Holding my baby was very important to me because I strongly believed at each feeding if I held him close to me it would help him get better. I felt this was crucial to his health because he was only a few hours old. I made sure to have skin-to-skin time, something the NICU nurses also encouraged.

Holding my baby was very important to me because I strongly believed at each feeding if I held him close to me it would help him get better.

The hospital was kind enough to let me stay at the hospital while Zephaniah was in the NICU, but if he would have had to stay longer, then I would have had to go back home. The thought of not being able to take my baby home with me saddened and terrified me.

Thankfully, Zephaniah’s stay in the NICU was only for a couple of days. His health quickly improved and we were able to take him home. I was so happy to finally take my sweet baby home.

Zephaniah’s times in the hospital was only for a short time, yet those two days felt like they were the longest days of my life. I can only imagine how hard it is for parents whose baby has to stay in the NICU for much longer.

My beautiful family: (from left to right) Elijah-17, Zhen-5, Travis, Zephaniah, Michala-15, and Zechariah-2

No Baby Unhugged Program

That’s why I love Huggies’ No Baby Unhugged program. With my brief experience of Zephaniah in the NICU, I know first-hand what it feels like to have a baby in intensive care. Huggies No Baby Unhugged program is doing amazing things for parents and babies.

Huggies awards grants to hospitals in the U.S. to help babies get the hugs they need in the NICU when their parents are not able to give them. For example, if a parent has to work and cannot be at the hospital to hug (hold) their baby. A volunteer hugger will be there to give their baby a hug.

Huggies also helps provide diapers to families in need. And you, too, can help Huggies continue their great work with their No Baby Unhugged Program!

You, too, can join Huggies No Baby Unhugged Program and help babies and children struggling with diaper need. Read below to find out how!

 

Many Parents Struggle to Provide Diapers for Their Children

Did you know that one-in-three (36%) families in the United States struggle with providing enough diapers for their baby or toddler? Diapers are a necessity for babies and toddlers because it keeps little ones clean, dry, and healthy.

Roughly three-in-four parents feel they are not being good parents when their children are left too long in a dirty diaper. Babies and toddlers need to be changed frequently and sometimes a parent can feel stressed or overwhelmed by diapering always or often.

Sometimes parents even miss work or school because they are not able to provide sufficient diapers childcare, daycare, or early education programs require to care for their child. This, in turn, stresses a parent out even more because missed work could possibly lead to a decrease in pay. Parents experiencing diaper need missed an average of four days of work or school in the past month!

No parent should have to worry about providing enough diapers for their baby, and no baby should have to go without a clean diaper.

Huggies and Meijer’s Partnership to Help Families’ Diaper Need

As a result of Meijer shoppers’ efforts, on Thursday, January 25, a total of 400,00 diapers and $10,000 was presented to the National Diaper Bank Network at the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank. This great diaper donation of 400,000 diapers helped bring Huggies and Meijer’s total diaper donation over the past five years of partnership to 1 million diapers! Best of all, a portion of those diapers is going to the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank to help support local families in diaper need.

But the work is not finished! Huggies ongoing No Baby Unhugged program still needs donations to help parents and babies in need. You, too, can join Huggies No Baby Unhugged Program and help babies and children struggling with diaper need. Here’s how:

You can purchase Huggies Snug & Dry and Huggies Little Movers at your local Meijer store.


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All photographs are courtesy of Jennifer Hamra for Good Life Detroit.

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].