- Premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were visited by Santa Claus in an adorable photo shoot
- The infants at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston were dressed in red Santa hats and booties
- All of the newborns pictured were premature, born before 37 weeks, and require specialized care
Premature babies in Texas experienced holiday cheer for the first time when Santa Claus came to visit them in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The infants at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston were dressed from head to toe in adorable red Santa hats and booties.
All of the infants pictured were born premature, before 37 weeks, and require specialized care due the high risk of them developing physical and neurological disorders.
The adorable babies who struck a pose for the camera are just a handful of the 15 million infants born prematurely each year and are hoping to make it home for their first Christmas.
Adorable photos show babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) dressed in Santa costumes for the holidays
All the infants pictured were born premature and may be spending their first Christmas in the hospital
Santa Claus stopped by Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston to bring some holiday cheer to the infants and their families
Because the infants were born before 37 weeks they require specialized care to assure they are healthy enough to go home
Premature baby Wyatt looks comfortable in his Santa hat and onesie laying next to his customized ornament
Santa’s visit was hosted by the hospital’s Newborn Center Family Advisory Committee and First Memories Texas, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping families whose infants are in the NICU at Texas Children’s.
The organization’s goal is to celebrate, honor and tell children’s stories through photography and album-making.
While some of the infants struck a pose and smiled for the camera, others slept.
The premature babies in the adorable photos are at a higher risk of long-term physical and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy and autism.
Their lungs can also be affected if they have not fully developed by the time of birth which can lead to asthma and chronic lung diseases.
The NICU provides them with special care and also admits infants who are born with medical conditions.
Twins, triplets and other multiples are admitted into the NICU after birth because they typically are born underweight.
One in 10 babies will require neonatal intensive care and about 15 million infants are born premature each year.
Most twins, triplets and other multiples are admitted into the NICU after birth because they typically are born underweight
While some babies smiled and posed for the camera, others napped throughout the photo shoot
Santa’s visit was hosted by the hospital’s Newborn Center Family Advisory Committee and First Memories Texas
The parents of the newborn infants are hoping to have their babies home for their first Christmas