“Spa day” for newborn babies

Everyone loves “spa day,’’ including newborn babies.

At UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital at Anschutz Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), spa day begins with a member of the staff filling a turtle tub with warm water. In no time, light, foamy bubbles begin to form on the water’s surface. Clean-scented aromas fill the air, creating a soothing atmosphere.

A newborn baby, wrapped in a swaddle to keep heat close to their body to help regulate temperature, is carefully placed in the tub. Relaxation sets in.

This is a moment that families will remember forever. Any parent knows that the first weeks of a baby’s life may be a time of tremendous joy, but also a fair amount of uncertainty.

McKenna Luft, certified nursing assistant, knows that for parents of babies in the NICU, it can be a daunting and overwhelming place. Life may seem like it’s been turned upside down as parents wait for the day when their baby is ready to go home.

Emotions are all-consuming; conflicting feelings exist simultaneously. It can be hard to fully embrace special moments with their newest arrival.

With so many “firsts” in the NICU, Luft wanted to provide families an opportunity to help ease anxiety and celebrate their milestones.

As a photography enthusiast, Luft enjoys capturing moments for families.

“Everybody wants pictures for their baby book,” Luft said. “I really like doing things with families and try to make a difference.”

While working on the unit, she thought of an idea that would make for great pictures and unforgettable memories. She could create a unique and adorable bath time experience, a little “spa day” for families to enjoy together.

Luft carefully researched and purchased supplies for the “spa day” kits.

Each spa day kit includes a small loofah (sponge) in assorted colors, a miniature yellow rubber duck and little cotton rounds that look like cucumber slices. The supplies are enclosed in a clear plastic bag, accessible to anyone on the unit to use with families in need of some relaxation and bonding time with their little one.

According to Luft, families are grateful for the unique bath time experience and expressed cherishing those memories forever.

“I think it’s a big thing for parents,” Luft said of the milestone moments like bath time. “I think the big things are truly the little things that just add up.”

When a baby is developmentally ready and the time is appropriate, they can have a spa day.

“It’s so relaxing for the baby and really enjoyable for the parents,” Luft said. “It’s a mood booster for everybody around, staff too.”

During the spa day, Luft gets the baby’s hair all sudsy and snaps cute pictures for the family. At the end, she wraps the child’s head in a little towel to complete their spa day.

“She is a wonderful CNA who really cares about our patients and families,” said Lani Bowler, nurse manager. “She takes the time to do little things like this [spa day kits] to make being in the neonatal ICU a little bit better for parents.”

Since its inception in October 2023, Luft has prepared a couple spa days a week, totaling about 15-20 spa days to date.

Around the same time, Luft created a self-proclaimed “photo booth on wheels.” The rolling cart is decorated to celebrate an upcoming holiday and NICU babies can have their picture taken to commemorate their first holiday. To date, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas have been celebrated.

The NICU plans to continue offering the spa days and photo booth on wheels for upcoming holidays.