International Read-a-Thon Supports Infant Development and Family Bonding

GLENDALE — Abrazo Arrowhead Campus joined the International Read-a-Thon initiative, for the third year in a row, to encourage reading to infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to promote healthy development and strengthen family connections.

September is national NICU Awareness Month, so Abrazo Arrowhead nurses have been sharing children’s books with families and encouraging daily reading at babies’ bedsides.

“I really like having books and reading them, it feels like you’re bonding with him. Dad read eight books to him in a row,” says Areanna Mueller whose baby was born prematurely and in the NICU for 42 days.

“When a parent reads to their baby in the NICU, they're doing so much more than just reciting words from a book. They're creating a moment of normalcy in a very clinical, often overwhelming environment,” says Ramya Kumar, Developmental Coordinator, Abrazo Arrowhead NICU. 

The read-a-thon brings together parents, nurses, physicians, therapists, and even nursing students at hospitals across the country, all taking turns reading aloud to help nurture babies’ development.

“From a developmental perspective, that verbal input is incredibly powerful. Even if they don't understand the words, hearing language and different tones stimulates a baby's brain and helps build those crucial neural pathways. It's a key part of setting them up for future language, literacy, and cognitive skills,” says Kumar.

NICU babies can face unique challenges—ranging from prematurity and critical illness to prolonged hospital stays—and are at higher risk of developmental delays. Abrazo Arrowhead’s efforts to introduce language and literacy early provide families with a practical way to support growth and bonding during hospitalization. 

“Reading gives parents a tangible way to feel involved in their baby's care. When so much is out of their control, this simple act is a way to nurture their child, strengthening that parent-infant bond. That connection is just as important for the parents as it is for the baby,” adds Kumar.