Even the Smallest Heart Can Make a Powerful Difference.
When a baby is born too soon, parents enter a world of monitors, medical language, and long hours in the NICU. In those fragile early days, something as simple as a parent’s scent can help regulate breathing, stabilize heart rate, and bring comfort during separation.
That’s where scent hearts come in.
Join Newborn Hope for a Hearts & Healing Scent Hearts Demonstration on February 28, 2026, at the Pueblo West Library. This free community event will be led by Judy Case, who will demonstrate how to create a scent heart from beginning to end.
The event highlights how scent hearts support premature babies in the NICU by strengthening bonding, promoting physiological stability, and complementing kangaroo care practices.
What if one small heart could steady another?
What if one small heart could steady another?
Why Scent Hearts Matter
Research shows that a premature baby can recognize and respond to their parent’s scent. Scent hearts are small, handmade fabric hearts worn against a parent’s skin and then placed near their baby in the NICU.
They help:
Promote physiological stability
Support bonding during times of separation
Complement kangaroo care practices
Encourage parent involvement in NICU care
Provide comfort during critical developmental stages
Scent hearts work hand-in-hand with kangaroo care — the skin-to-skin contact that supports brain development, emotional connection, and healing. When parents can’t be physically present every moment, scent becomes a bridge.
Because bonding is not optional in the NICU. It is essential.
Meet Our Demonstration Leader: Judy Case
This demonstration will be led by long-time Newborn Hope volunteer Judy Case, whose steady hands and generous heart have supported NICU families for years.
Judy has helped sew over 3,000 scent hearts for Colorado hospitals. She understands that each stitch represents a family navigating uncertainty, and she believes every parent deserves tools that empower them to care for their baby with confidence.
Her warmth and expertise make this demonstration welcoming for beginners and seasoned volunteers alike.