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Babies With Books NICU Read-A-Thon

September 16, 2022

The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) is taking part in the Babies with Books NICU Read-A-Thon, a friendly competition at more than 140 children’s hospitals across the nation and several countries around the world. HOCC is partnering with Connecticut Children’s as part of the Pediatric Care Alliance with Hartford HealthCare.

The Third Annual Babies with Books Read-a-thon takes place Sep. 12–22 and coincides with National Literacy Month. During this time, parents, colleagues and administrators at HOCC will read to babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Babies in NICUs typically are born prematurely, have low birth weight or have a health conditions that need special care.

NICU Readathon

Benefits of reading to babies

Reading to babies:

  • Creates and strengthens connections in a baby’s brain.
  • Promotes social-emotional development.
  • Helps with language and literacy skills during this critical period of early brain and child development.