Care Packages for Bunbury

Some babies are admitted to Neonatal Units for several hours and some for many months. This has considerable impact on parents, siblings, extended family and staff, a true ripple effect.

Each baby is unique, each stay is unique but for most it is totally unexpected. Being separated from your baby isn’t what was planned. The babies admitted to Bunbury Regional Hospital Neonatal Unit generally stay 1 to 7 days. Their parents may be feeling overwhelmed and isolated during that time.

We are pleased to announce expansion of our Care Package Program to Bunbury Regional Hospital 🎉 With thanks to volunteer delivery driver Sharni, each month BRH Neonatal Unit will receive 30 ‘Special Care Packs’ for distribution to babies admitted to their unit.

We are very conscious of expanding our programs in a sustainable way. It is thanks to the generosity of the community that we can continue to grow, and support more WA families each year.

4 Years and 1000 Care Packages

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Can you believe we have been delivering Care Packages for 4 years now?  It seems to have come around so fast!!  On the 4th anniversary of our very first delivery to King Edward Memorial Hospital (Perth), we delivered our 1,000th Care Package!  Our first delivery consisted of just 10 packs and now we are delivering in excess of 50 packs per month.

It's quite incredible to know that we have raised more than $40,000 specifically for this program over the last 4 years and provided families in neonatal units with goods exceeding $95,000 of retail value!!  WOW!

Each of our Care Packages is sponsored by an individual, family or business and each pack contains a personal note of encouragement or support.

We are very grateful to the Western Suburbs Weekly for attending our 1,000th Care Package Delivery and writing an article which you can read here.

Donation - Sponsor a Neonatal Unit Care Package

A$25.00

It was lovely to meet Mum Sophie and heartening to hear that her daughter Scarlett is making progress every day in the neonatal unit.

We are so grateful to everyone who has sponsored a Care Package over the last 4 years.  We hope to support more families in the future by expanding our program to reach more of the 4,000 families whose babies are admitted to the neonatal unit in WA each year.

To send your own message of support and help us in our endeavour to support more families, please donate a care package.  Your donation is tax deductible.

Welcoming Baby Spa Perth

We are delighted to welcome Baby Spa Perth as a Supporter of Tiny Sparks WA.  They have very generously donated hydrotherapy and massage vouchers to be included in our care packages which are distributed to the smallest and sickest of WA's babies admitted to neonatal units.

Chairperson Amber with Director Anita collecting the gift vouchers.

Anita, Director of Baby Spa Perth advises there are a range off benefits to babies, especially those born sick or preterm, once they are discharged from hospital.

HYDROTHERAPY BENEFITS 

The sensation of floating in warm water puts babies completely at ease and can promote a number of key benefits:

• Muscular and skeletal strength is increased through the water’s gentle resistance.

• Movement through the water has a positive effect on the digestive and circulatory systems, which can reduce meconium levels and lowers the risk of jaundice three or four days after birth.

• Subtle water pressure on the chest can increase lung capacity by strengthening intercostal muscles and the respiratory system.

• Regular visits can benefit the cardiovascular system.

• Innate swimming reflexes are stimulated and co-ordination is developed as they learn to control their movements.

MASSAGE BENEFITS FOR BABY

• Promotion of parent-child bonding and secure attachment. This in turn facilitates their emotional and cognitive development (i.e. ability to learn)

• Supports the stimulation of digestive and circulatory systems, reducing the discomfort of constipation and colic 

• Relaxation - the combination of being in warm water along with massage promotes relaxation and supports the improvement of sleep patterns lead-ing to improved attention, working memory and emotional regulation in children

Lauren Catalano took her son Lenny regularly to Baby Spa Perth.  Here is what she has to say about the experience.

“Our first visit too Baby Spa Perth was the day after our second son Lenny was discharged from the NICU at King Edward. After being born at 24 weeks, I made it my mission as his mother too give him the best alternative therapies outside of the hospital once he was home to allow his body to heal and thrive.

Baby Spa Perth soon became a weekly ritual for Lenny and I, Lenny grew to love the water and instinctively relax as soon as the therapist would warm the oil between her hands. The benefits were clear after just the first visit, and then even more so after a few weeks. I have no doubt in my mind that Baby Spa Perth has contributed too Lennys amazing development and health.
THANKYOU Baby Spa Perth for your gentle and loving care that you gave too both Lenny and myself during our time at Baby Spa Perth.
I would highly recommend any mother too take their baby to Baby Spa Perth. ”

— Lauren Catalano

Donation - Sponsor a Neonatal Unit Care Package

A$25.00

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We are grateful to Anita and her team for their ongoing contribution towards our care package program.  The vouchers will provide parents with a safe place to take their baby for a relaxed bonding experience in their first few weeks after discharge.

Please consider sponsoring a care package, providing essential items and sending a personal message to a West Australian family in the neonatal unit.  They need our support!

Thanks Caleb!

Like almost 4,000 other babies born in 2014 Caleb started his life in the neonatal unit, born at just 27 weeks gestation.  He recently celebrated his third birthday by raising a whopping $761.67 for Tiny Sparks WA, what a super effort for someone so young!  Happy Birthday Caleb!  You can check out his Everyday Hero fundraising page here.

We are so grateful to Caleb and his family and friends.  19 care packages are now on their way to neonatal units in Perth with Caleb's personal message.

You too can join Caleb in making a difference to WA families who's baby's are starting life in the neonatal unit by sponsoring a care package or creating your very own Everyday Hero Fundraising page and choosing to support Tiny Sparks WA.

30 Care Packages in 30 Days!

The end of financial year countdown is on!

Each year we distribute more than 700 care packages. We would love for you to make an end of financial year donation and sponsor a care package! Each care package is provided with a personalised message from the donor, you can leave your message when making the donation. A receipt will be e-mailed to you for taxation purposes immediately.

Help us achieve our goal of sponsorship of 30 care packages in 30 days, that's 1 for each day of June.

Thank you!