The annual Babies With Books NICU read-a-thon is a friendly reading competition between both families and NICUs. The read-a-thon works to encourage family reading, support infants and families, and build NICU morale especially during the isolating time of COVID-19. Participating hospitals receive BWB's read-a-thon process guide with step-by-step guidelines for organizing and implementing the read-a-thon. Our guide includes materials and resources such as:

• Family information on how and why to read in the NICU

• Healthcare Provider information on NICU reading rationale

• Suggestions for engaging families and healthcare providers in read-a-thon

• Templated materials to promote read-a-thon

• Templated reading tracking sheets

• ​Templated data collection sheets

• Books lists in multiple languages, including easy access to free, online books

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Learn more about how reading aloud with babies beginning in the NICU supports infant brain development, promotes family bonding, and reduces stress here.  

September 2021 Read-a-thon NICU Registrants

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• Advocate Children's Hospital - Park Ridge

• Advocate Children's Hospital at Advocate Christ Medical Center

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago

• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Irving

• Baylor University Medical Center - Dallas

• Carle Foundation Hospital

• Catholic Medical Center Special Care Nursery

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

• Chester County Hospital - CHOP Newborn & Pediatric Care

• Children's Hospital New Orleans

• Children's Mercy Hospital

• Cone Health

• Connecticut Children's Medical Center

• Connecticut Children's NICU at UConn Health Center

• Dell Children's Medical Center

• Dublin Methodist Hospital - Nationwide Children's Hospital

• Grant Medical Center - Nationwide Children's Hospital

• Greater Baltimore Medical Center

• Humber River Hospital

• Javon Bea Hospital - Riverside

• Joe Di Maggio Children's Hospital

• John R. Oishei Children's Hospital

• Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children

• Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center

• Memorial Miramar Hospital

• Mercy Health St. Mary's Hospital

• Mercy Kids Hospital

• Mission Children's Hospital

• Mott Children's Hospital (University of Michigan)

• Mount Carmel St Ann's Hospital

• Nemours Children's Hospital

• OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital

• OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois

• Our Lady of Lourdes Women's & Children's Hospital

• PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend

• Penn Medicine Women and Babies Hospital

• Peyton Manning Children's Hospital - Ascension St. Vincent

• Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

• Portland Providence Medical Center

• Presbyterian Hospital

• Randall Children's Hospital

• Regional One Health

• Regions Hospital

• Rose Medical Center

• Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital - NHS Foundation Trust

• Salem Hospital - Salem Health

• Sanford Children's Hospital - Fargo

• Sanford USD Medical Center - Sioux Falls

• St. Barnabas Medical Center

• St. Joseph Medical Center - Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

• St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

• St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital - Baycare Health System

• St. Louis Children's Hospital

• St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital

• St. Mary's Medical Center

• St. Vincent Healthcare

• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - DAN Women & Babies NICU

• Swedish American Hospital

• Swedish Medical Hospital - Issaquah

• The Children's Hospital of San Antonio

• The Woman's Hospital of Texas

• University Hospitals - Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

• University of Illinois Health

• University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital

• University of Vermont Children's Hospital

• UR Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital

• Valley Medical Center

• Victoria General Hospital

• Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies

• Wolfson Children's Hospital

2020 Read-a-thon:​

Winning Hospitals (based on reading rate):

First: Emory Decatur Hospital 

Second: University of Vermont Medical Center

Third: Rochester General Hospital

Read-a-thon Videos

Sanford Health's NICU Read-a-thon

St Vincent Healthcare Participates in National Babies With Books Read-a-thon

Woman's Hospital Participates in NICU Read-a-thon

OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Medical Director Speaks to NICU Awareness Month

Swedish American Takes Part in Babies With Books National Read-a-thon 

Sanford Health's NICU Read-a-thon

Read-a-thon Feedback:

“Families rallied around the chance to start reading with their babies as a way to bond.”

-  NICU Nurse

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"I loved it! And the babies seemed to enjoy it, too. I noticed they became calm, attentive, and had more regular heart rates and breathing rates when being read to."

- NICU Speech Therapist

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"I'm so proud of our entire NICU team for participating in this amazing opportunity to help bring awareness to a crucial and often under recognized topic."

- NICU Medical Director

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“This experience reminds me why I love my job."

- Chief Nursing Officer