Waiting for You: My Sibling in the NICU
A story about new sibling, rewritten for your child
Every page is redrawn around the child you make it for. Keep the story’s own hero and give them your child’s name, or choose someone new — it takes a minute, and nothing is locked in.
From$34.99 USD
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
- 34 pages, hardcover
- 5.9 × 5.9 in
- Ages 3-5
- Premium, thick pages
- Free standard shipping included
- Printed & delivered in 2-3 weeks (US)
Start with the story’s own hero or pick from our cast — then give them your child’s name.
A tender, personalized book for siblings navigating the NICU wait — honest, hopeful, and healing.
That’s the story. The rest is how it becomes your child’s.
How personalization works
Who is this story about?
Keep the story’s own hero
The hero is already written and drawn for this book. Give them your child’s name if you like — that’s the whole edit.
Or swap in one of our cast
Eight characters to start from, and you rename whoever you pick.
- Luna
- Theo
- Mateo
- Sofia
- Amara
- Layla
- Mei
- Ravi
Or make your own
Describe them in a sentence, or add a photo to guide the likeness. Either way, entirely optional.
The characters are just the start.
Every part of this book is yours to change. Not a name dropped into a template — the whole thing is redrawn around the child you’re making it for.
- Every illustrationAll 34 pages are drawn fresh, not stamped with a face.
- The rooms and placesYour child's actual bedroom, your street, the places the story visits.
- The objects that recurThe specific blanket, the toy they won’t sleep without — carried page to page.
- Everyone else in itSiblings, grandparents, the dog. Named and drawn as themselves.
- The story itselfChange what happens, and the words on the page change with it.
- Or change nothingPick a hero and read it tonight. The rest is there when you want it.
What's Inside This Book
1 of 18 spreads
Every character, scene, and object in this book can be replaced with your own — your child's name, your family photos, your home, your school.
What you get
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
Start free
- Free to start — no card needed
- See your child in the story in minutes
- Rename the hero and edit the story text
- Choose a ready-made character, or add a photo later
- Export a PDF of what you make
Your perfect keepsake
Hardcover book
- Full-color hardcover, 15×15cm
- Free standard shipping included
- Printed & delivered in about 2-3 weeks (US)
- Personalize names, story text & style
- Add your own photos once you are in the editor
Quick summary of Waiting for You: My Sibling in the NICU
Waiting for You is a tender picture book designed specifically for young siblings navigating the emotional journey of having a baby in the NICU. Through honest, hopeful storytelling, it helps preschoolers understand what's happening, express their feelings, and feel part of the healing journey while building anticipation for their sibling's homecom
This personalized children's book follows a 3–5-year-old as their baby sibling spends time in the NICU. Featuring characters Maya, Baby Brother, Mama, Daddy, and a NICU Nurse, it names hard feelings, demystifies the hospital, and celebrates the moment baby finally comes home.
Key Takeaways
- Validates sadness and feeling left out through honest, age-appropriate emotional naming
- Builds NICU literacy with simple, reassuring explanations a 3-year-old can understand
- Strengthens sibling identity by framing waiting as an act of love and bravery
- Gives families a shared reading ritual during one of parenting's most isolating experiences
- Celebrates homecoming as a milestone earned together, honoring the whole family's journey
Why This Book Works
Bibliotherapy research consistently shows that seeing one's own name and situation in a story accelerates emotional processing in young children. Dr. Betsy Hearne's foundational work on narrative empathy confirms that personalized characters create stronger identification than generic protagonists — meaning Maya's story becomes your child's story. For families managing NICU stress, that mirror effect can open conversations that feel impossible to start cold.
The NICU experience places enormous psychological strain on older siblings, who often exhibit regression or behavioral changes because they lack words for their confusion. A 2018 study in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing found that sibling support interventions — including age-appropriate storytelling — measurably reduced anxiety in children aged 3–6. This book does exactly that: it names the NICU, normalizes the wait, and repositions the sibling as an active, loving participant rather than a bystander.
Attachment theory, articulated by Dr. John Bowlby and extended by modern researchers like Dr. Daniel Siegel, holds that children regulate fear most effectively when a trusted caregiver co-reads and co-processes with them. The story's gentle pacing — one feeling per page, one milestone per chapter — mirrors the "serve and return" interaction model that builds secure attachment. Reading it together isn't just comforting; it's neurologically supportive.
Common Misconceptions
Young children are too little to understand NICU stress.
Research by child psychologist Dr. Tiffany Field shows children as young as 3 detect parental distress acutely. Naming the situation clearly — as this book does — reduces, not increases, anxiety.
Talking about the NICU will make siblings more upset.
Avoidance tends to amplify fear. A 2018 Journal of Pediatric Nursing study found age-appropriate explanations of a sibling's medical situation significantly lowered reported anxiety in preschoolers.
This book is only useful while the baby is still in the NICU.
Families report rereading it at homecoming and beyond — it becomes a shared origin story that honors what the whole family endured and celebrates the sibling's role in the journey.
How to Read This Book with Your Child
Best time to read: Read once when the NICU stay begins, again before the first hospital visit, and once more on homecoming day.
Tell your child: 'This is a story about a big sister who felt some of the same things you might be feeling.' Show them the dedication page first. Let them notice their name in the story before you begin — that moment of recognition matters and sets a safe emotional tone.
Conversation Starters
- “What do you think Maya felt when she had to keep waiting for her brother?”
- “What special job would you want to do to help your baby sibling?”
- “When the baby finally came home, how do you think Maya's heart felt?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this book appropriate for my 3-year-old?
Yes. This book is designed for children ages 3-5 and uses simple, honest language appropriate for preschoolers. It explains the NICU in concrete, non-frightening terms while validating big emotions.
Does the book address scary hospital details?
The book acknowledges the hospital setting and equipment honestly but age-appropriately, helping reduce anxiety through familiarity rather than hiding scary aspects that children might imagine worse.
Will this book help my child feel included during this difficult time?
Absolutely. The story validates your sibling's important role in the family journey, explains what's happening in child-friendly language, and helps them feel connected to their baby sibling despite the separation.
Can this book help explain a long NICU stay?
Yes. The book's themes of patience, hope, and perseverance are particularly helpful for extended stays, and can be revisited multiple times as the situation evolves.
Does the book have a happy ending?
The book balances realistic emotions with genuine hope and focuses on the unbreakable family bond that exists even while separated, preparing children for reunion while honoring the present moment.
How can I use this book to prepare my child?
Read it together before or after NICU visits, use it to answer questions, point to illustrations to explain what they might see, and encourage them to express their feelings about the story and their sibling.
A story about new sibling, rewritten for your child
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
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