Are there qualifications to be a baby rocker at a hospital?

I had a stroke 30 years ago; however, so far no seizures, I avoid sleeping pills, & I still drive. When I decided that I wanted to volunteer with the babies in my local hospital, I went to the front desk & told the lady there what I wanted to do. She made a call & a person in HR came out & took me back to talk to the person in control of that department. My main concern was that I could only use one arm & hand which freaks out a lot of new mothers. She assured me that wouldn’t be a problem as they have special slings for holding the infant up close to the chest. Many parents use them at home & new mothers see them as a safety product. When I first get there, one of the nurses helps me to get the baby positioned properly. IF I get bored with just rocking, I have the flexibility to walk them around the hospital. One leg drags just a little & I walk with a cane. With the gait that I have, it gives the baby the sensation that they are still rocking & most sleep comfortably as we walk. When I first started the staff kept their eye on me to make sure nothing would go wrong. With time & my learning ways to adjust my disability to fit the needs of each baby, it has worked out well. Our local hospital is always looking for volunteers & they are willing to work with anyone willing to volunteer their time within the safety constraints of all involved.

You might want to encourage your friend to go to the hospital she’s interested in volunteering & put in her application. IF her health is such that she can’t sit with the babies, there might be another position that needs her just as much. That way the people at the hospital can explain to her why they need her worse in a different position. Who knows, they might offer her something that she’ll just love!!!

When my dad was in the hospital the last time, he looked forward to seeing the volunteer who distributed the mail to each patient. She walked in with a big smile every day & it made him feel better. As a matter of fact, even on the days that he had nothing, she stuck her head in the door & apologized for having nothing for him that day & even that brightened his day!!! On his last day, he told her he would be leaving & she told him how much she’d miss seeing him & he grinned from ear to ear. She made that sick old man feel good about himself & that was not an easy feat!!!

Your friend might also find that she doesn’t enjoy volunteering as much as she thinks she will. The only way to know is to try…so suggest that she start the process & see what happens. The hospital there might have different qualifications; but, I’d imagine most hospitals look forward to hiring volunteers as that’s FREE labor. Plus, you might be surprised how much volunteering might help your friend to feel better about herself & help her own physical limitations!!! There’s nothing like cuddling a baby most of the day to relieve stress & help you sleep at night!!!

I was asked to answer. Unfortunately I have no idea. I work exclusively wirh adults.

Well if she actually gets such a position you need to let her bosses know.

Yes, you have to pass a background check among other qualifications. I didn’t actually ask for the app, since I was asking for a friend.

@Dutchess_lll she has no boss. She’s 77 years old living in an independent living place.
@LadyMarissa after reading your post I’m pretty sure she’ll be able to get the job. I hope her friends in town wont be expected to drive her to the hospital and pick her up. As it is, they take her to the mall practically daily!

If she gets a job as a baby rocker in a hospital she will have a supervisor. That’s who you need to tell.

The staff at the hospital will keep a close eye on her until they can feel comfortable with her skills. Volunteers do a lot of the non medical tasks that the nurses don’t have time to do & definitely don’t want to do!!! Still, the nurses keep a close eye on any non medical personnel because they are caring for their patient & the nurses instinctively worry about their patients. IF she’s hung over from her sleeping pill, the nurses will recognize the symptoms & notify the shift supervisor. In many hospitals, volunteers have become an important part of the workforce as there are many of us old folks who don’t want to work a full time job & still have time to spare. Nurses are needed elsewhere taking care of the critically ill!!!