Oh Baby! Baby Day at Redlands Hospital

Last Sunday, May 19, the Redlands Community Hospital hosted the “Oh Baby” day in the parking lot of the hospital. The event was complete with family-friendly activities and free refreshments and snacks for the children. The goal of “Oh Baby” day was to celebrate the birth of all the babies who have been born there and their families. Groups of photos were taken of families and children who were born in 2009–13 and a multi-generational photo was taken as well. Over 50 parents and children arrived for the first three photos for each respective age group. The other two age groups had over 20 people each, and the multi-generational families brought in more than 10. This event also commemorated the 125th anniversary of the City of Redlands, as well as the 25th anniversary of the neonatal intensive care unit. Over 10,000 invitations were given out to members of the community, and the goal was to hit at least 5,000. The event was worked by a few members of staff and many volunteers who helped keep the event running smoothly and efficiently. Elise Anguinzola, an Account Coordinator for a PR firm representing RCS, stated, “We are really lucky with this event as far as volunteers are concerned; we have high school students, some college students, and regular hospital volunteers helping us.” This is event has been going on since the late 1920s, although it has been discontinued several times in the past when it was too huge a task to continue with the project. It made its most recent comeback in the late 1990s and early 2000s. More than 2,400 babies are born at RCH each year, and it is also an independent, stand-alone hospital. The event also featured a DJ who played a mixture of our own popular songs, children’s lullabies, and Kid’s Bop CD’s. According to Nikyah Pfeiffer, Marketing Manager and coordinator of the “Oh Baby” day, the event had been in progress and production for a few months, since January. President and CEO of the Hospital, James Holmes, stated, “The best part of this event is that I get to see a lot of the social change. When the pictures first began in the 1920s, it was just women and babies. Slowly over the years, fathers and extended family also started joining our events to be in the picture.” Holmes’ daughter was born in the hospital and kept in the ICU for a few weeks following her birth. Mike Ramos, District Attorney for San Bernardino County, shared his personal story with those at the event, “I will always remember the care that the nurses gave us and our grandson.” Ramos had been born at the hospital, as were his two children and grandson. The committee is already looking ahead to the future of the “Oh Baby” event. James Holmes closed the ceremony with this reminder, “We hope to see you five years from now in the next “Oh Baby” day celebration. So it’s time to go and get started.”