As the song goes, “there’s no place like home for the holidays.” This year, those lyrics have added significance. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, RSV & flu season, so many preemie families are staying home to protect their precious miracles. Here are some tips to having a festive stay-at-home holiday:

• Get festive: Make your environment merry by decorating. Get the family to pitch in and make wreaths, popcorn garland and ornaments. Check out Pinterest for easy DIY ideas.
• Cookie exchange: Organize willing participants and have everyone drop off their goodies on the front doorstep of 1 other participant! Everyone will have a lovely little sweet treat waiting for them when they open the door.
• Gingerbread house fun: Gather your supplies and get to decorating… If you end up snacking on the whole thing before it’s finished — we won’t tell.
• Send holiday cards to your favorite NICU: Send your holiday wishes to those in our preemie community who could really use the extra warm wishes.
• Movie Night: Pull out the pillows, pop the corn and decide which Christmas classic to watch — or make it a Christmas movie marathon!
• Dashing through the snow: Feeling claustrophobic? Get in the car and drive around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights and decorations.
• Virtual family time: Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, honor precaution over tradition to keep your loved ones safe, especially if your preemie has an underlying health concern. Instead of meeting together, consider sending out a Zoom invite and enjoy family time virtually.
• Sensory-friendly gifts: Look for great gift and celebration ideas for your special needs preemie in Parenting Special Needs Magazine, December edition – https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/features/