Grantley Stable Neonatology Unit reads their way to second place

The Grantley Stable Neonatology Unit at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) has been awarded second place in Australia in the Little Readers Read-a-thon.

Parents of RBWH’s tiniest patients spent more than 302 hours reading to their babies between 7-18 September as part of the international campaign.

Reading to babies has a range of benefits including providing comfort to them, supporting their development and providing a meaningful activity for parents during a time when many feel helpless. The Little Readers Read-a-thon aims to promote these benefits each year to as many new parents as possible.

Kimberly Nye and her new twin daughters Hannah and Sophie are some of the star participants in the Little Readers Read-a-thon at RBWH. Hannah and Sophie were born prematurely and have spent the past 11 weeks being cared for in the Grantley Stable Neonatology and Special Care Units.

“Between my husband and I, we spent more than 500 minutes reading to Hannah and Sophie throughout the Read-a-Thon,” said Kimberly.

“We are both work as teachers, so we see first-hand the benefits reading to babies and children has on their intellectual development.

“We read to our son every night before bed, and we plan to do the same with Hannah and Sophie when we’re able to bring them home.”

RBWH Director of Neonatology Pieter Koorts said that they encourage parents of babies to read to them all year round, not just during the Read-a-Thon.

“Having a premature or sick baby in hospital can be a stressful time for families,” he said.

“Taking time out to read a story provides a distraction from everything that’s going on around them and acts as a bonding experience between families and their baby.

“It also helps them to learn about sounds, words and language – from the moment they are born.”

To find out more about the Little Readers Read-a-thon, visit their website.