Parenting Preemies is a program dedicated to optimizing the early development of premature, low birth weight, and special needs infants. There is no cost for this program and both moms and dads are welcome.

We are committed to providing support and education for families in order to foster positive parent/infant interactions and optimal early development of the baby. A professional staff of social workers, pediatric occupational therapists, dieticians, and neonatal intensive care nurses conducts our ten-week program of encouragement and education.

In addition, the program staff collaborates with community resources such as the Inland Regional Center, the Public Health Department, and local pediatricians to provide cohesive and comprehensive family services.

The goal of the program is to ease the transition from hospital to home by accomplishing the following objectives:

• Families receive help through telephone contact, home visits, and group sessions.
• Parents identify and address medical, developmental, and other parenting concerns as they arise.
• Parents discuss concerns related to sleeping, feeding, and comforting.
• Parents observe a demonstration of treatment for infant choking and rescue breathing and have an opportunity to practice these skills.
• Parents learn to "read" and interpret their infant's behavioral signals.
• Parents learn play and care giving activities, which support and promote their infant's developmental progress.
• Families receive support in obtaining other available community services.
• Families have the opportunity to give and receive parent to parent support.

For more information, please contact our Parenting Preemies representative weekdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 909.985.2811, extension 23677.