Skip to content
  • X

Subscribe

Magazine | Newsletters
  • Food & Drink
  • News
  • Culture
  • Style
  • Home
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Things to Do
  • Travel
  • Best of NoVA
  • Best Restaurants
  • Most Influential
  • Top High Schools
  • In This Issue
  • Home
    • Family
  • Let this holiday photoshoot with babies in the NICU warm your heart
twins wrapped up as presents for a holiday photoshoot
  • Family

Let this holiday photoshoot with babies in the NICU warm your heart

Dozens of little patients donned their best holiday costumes at Children’s National Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit this week.

By Holly Gambrell December 18, 2019 at 4:34 pm

The holidays are a time of joy, peace and love. But for families with children in the hospital, it can be extra stressful, especially for parents of newborns who are spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit during the holiday season.

To spread festive cheer to little patients and their families, Children’s National Hospital’s NICU, which sees almost 900 sick newborns transferred to its facility from around the region each year, held a holiday photo shoot on Dec. 17, featuring babies in handmade costumes with fun themes, like getting dress up as presents with tags that say “Believe.” 

Participating families were able to select the costumes for their newborns, and a NICU volunteer took photos for them to add to their albums and to post to Instagram, allowing them and their hospitalized children the chance to enjoy the holiday tradition just like everyone else.

See cute photos from the event, below. 

For more family stories, subscribe to our weekly Family newsletter.

a baby at the nicu at children's national wrapped in a pink blanket and bow with the word believe on the tag
Baby Nia gets donned in a pink bow and tag that reads, “Believe.” (Photo courtesy of Children’s National)

 

a baby at a holiday photo shoot wrapped in a red plaid bow
This baby wrapped up like a present reminds us all what the holiday season is really about. (Photo courtesy of Children’s National)

 

a baby at the nicu wrapped as a present for a holiday photoshoot
Baby Declan looks extra festive in his crib with Rudolph sitting beside him. (Photo courtesy of Children’s National)

 

a baby wrapped up like a present with the tag reading the word joy
A newborn is always a source of joy for families. (Photo courtesy of Children’s National)

 

twins wrapped up as presents for a holiday photoshoot
Twice the festive fun! (Photo courtesy of Children’s National)

Trending in NoVA

This Northern Virginia Suburb Has Ranked Top 10 Wealthiest in the U.S.

7 Virginia Universities Ranked World Best in 2026-2027 List

Grab a Drink at 4 New Northern Virginia Breweries  

Where to Watch DC’s National Mall Fireworks Show from Northern Virginia

22 Fourth of July Fireworks Shows Set to Light Up the Night Sky in Northern Virginia

things to do newsletter

Our Top Stories In Your Inbox

Our newsletters delivered weekly.

Subscribe

Feeds

RSS Feed Follow in Feedly

You May Also Like

children jump in the water at a splash pad

11 Northern Virginia Splash Pads to Keep Kids Cool This Summer

Boy in pool with swimming goggles on

How to Avoid Swimmer’s Ear and Other Common Issues this Pool Season

national aquarium

These Day Trips from NoVA are Fit for the Whole Family

  • X

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Internships
  • Terms of Use

Magazine

  • Magazine
  • Subscription
  • Newsletter
  • Back Issues

Talk to Us

  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Event
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Shopping

  • Subscription
  • Back Issues
  • Plaques
  • Realtor Client Gift Subscriptions

On Newsstands Now

NoVA 250 - July 2026 cover image

Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Magazine

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Hey AI.