Rotunda beads for brave babies

Parents are receiving beads to celebrate their premature baby's progress

Parents of premature babies are now given "beads of courage" at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin to celebrate the infant's progress and milestones.

The idea originated in the US. Parents are given a bead bag, a piece of string and beads that spell out their baby's name, along with a bead journal to document their journey.

They can make note of procedures, treatments and milestones that babies endure when born prematurely, receiving colourful beads to represent the different stages.

Examples of these beads include; phototherapy, sleepover at the hospital, parental firsts, such as the first bath.

It can also involve first feed, first cuddles and one of the biggest achievements for a baby in the neonatal unit - discharge home.

The beads can be shown to the baby later in life to highlight their fighting spirit.