A devoted mother of two, Cornelius resident Julia Kraemer founded Kangaroo Cozies last year to offer the comfort and support she so appreciated during her own family’s journey in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Also proud to be a small business owner, Julia is thankful for the opportunity to offer the most delicate essentials possible for NICU and newborn babies.
“Our son was born at 27 weeks, weighing just two pounds, and spent three months in the NICU,” shares Julia. “During our journey, finding the perfect clothing for our tiny miracle was a challenge.”
Kangaroo Cozies offers bamboo clothing for both NICU babies and newborns, and a portion of every sale is donated to supporting other babies and their families. Julia’s store offers incredibly soft products that are tailored to be gentle on these babies’ delicate skin. Kangaroo Cozies also features skin-to-skin and nursing shirt Cozies for moms – comfortable and flattering, with a convenient wrap top. The skin-to-skin process with moms and NICU babies is called Kangaroo Care – which is where Julia’s business name came from!
“With every purchase of a Kangaroo Cozie, we make a donation to support NICU babies and their families, proudly partnering with two local nonprofits: Madelyn’s Fund and Bee Mighty,” explains Julia. “Madelyn’s Fund provides critical support to infant and pediatric patients in the NICU and their families, as well as to those who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child. They have helped fund 347 funerals to date. Bee Mighty offers resources and support to families before, during and after their NICU journey.”
Having experienced firsthand the incredible impact of both organizations, Julia knows her family wouldn’t be where they are today without them.
“My son is two years old, and I also have a four-year-old daughter, who is the most amazing big sister!” adds Julia. “The bond between them is truly special – filled with so much love and connection, more than I ever imagined possible.”
Grateful every day, it’s truly special to give back through her small business.
“My true inspiration came from witnessing my son’s time in the NICU and watching him quite literally fight for his life. He was so brave, courageous and strong. Supporting NICU babies is an incredible honor,” she adds.
While every NICU journey is unique, they all share a common thread of fear, uncertainty and intense emotion. Offering comfort – and even a small sense of normalcy – by providing clothing that actually fits, feels good and is extremely practical means everything to Julia and her family.
“It’s also deeply important to show parents that they’re not alone and that someone truly understands what they are going through.”
Every Kangaroo Cozie product is made from high quality bamboo fabric which is naturally hypoallergenic and perfect for sensitive skin. Each piece is designed with foldover hand and foot cuffs – especially helpful for NICU babies, allowing easy access to the feet and helping prevent little hands from pulling at tubes or wires. Sizes range from micro-preemie (one to four pounds), preemie (four to seven pounds), to newborn (seven to 10 pounds), with different styles to meet the unique needs of each stage.
“Our micro-preemie and preemie sizes feature snap closures which make it easy to accommodate medical tubes and wires,” says Julia. “Some of our newborn sizes come with double zippers that open from both the top and bottom, which makes diaper changes easier and allows tubing to be threaded through either side. We even offer three-way zipper designs, allowing wires or tubes to exit through the middle of the abdomen while keeping the baby fully dressed and comfortable. We also proudly offer adaptive Cozies, specially designed for babies with G-tubes. These feature abdominal pockets on either side, creating easy openings to safely and comfortably accommodate feeding tubes.”
Newborn size Cozies are also perfect for full term babies and make thoughtful, practical gifts.
Besides donations made with every purchase from Kangaroo Cozies, direct contributions can also be made through their website at kangaroocozies.com. Every donation goes towards providing a Kangaroo Cozie to a baby in need, helping make a difference in the lives of these tiny, brave fighters and their families. To learn more, please follow @kangaroo_cozies on Instagram!
