Family CARE Grants Help Create a Calmer Environment for Moms and Babies
Published Monday, August 17, 2026
Lindsay Kruitwagen, RN; Chelsea Trottier, RPN; and McKenzy Blundon, RN, of 1C Maternal Newborn at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, showcase a bedside reading light and white noise machine, now available to patients thanks to the Health Sciences Foundation's Family CARE Grants program.
Welcoming a new baby is an exciting time, but it can also be exhausting. In the Hospital, parents are caring for and feeding their newborns around the clock, often waking several times throughout the night. Simple comforts can make those moments a little easier for both moms and babies.
Thanks to support through the Health Sciences Foundation's Family CARE Grants program, every patient room on 1C Maternal Newborn at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre now has an adjustable bedside reading light, while five portable white noise machines are available to help create a calmer, more restful environment.
Instead of turning on bright overhead lights during nighttime feedings and newborn care, families can use a soft, adjustable bedside light that helps maintain a calm atmosphere. White noise machines also help mask the everyday sounds of a busy Hospital, creating a soothing environment that can help babies settle more easily while allowing parents to get more restful sleep. The additions are especially helpful in shared rooms and for babies who benefit from a quiet, dimly lit environment.
Made possible through donor support and Thunder Bay 50/50 participants, the Family CARE (Care Advancement Recommended by Employees) Grants program helps frontline staff bring smaller but meaningful ideas to life for patients and families.
Sometimes it's the simplest comforts that have the greatest impact, creating a more restful and supportive experience for new families during their first days together. Learn more about the Family CARE Grants program at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/familycare.