Cleveland Clinic NICU babies prepare for 2024 total solar eclipse

As anticipation mounts for the upcoming total solar eclipse, newborns in the Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio are preparing for a unique celestial experience.

Located nearly four minutes in the path of a total solar eclipse on April 8, the hospital is making sure even its youngest patients can take part.

Cleveland, including Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, is a prime location to view the solar eclipse. According to NASA, hospital patients will be able to view the eclipse starting at approximately 3:13 pm local time on April 8.

“Their eye patches are not official glasses for viewing the solar eclipse, but they do protect their eyes from the light used during certain treatments in the NICU,” the Cleveland Clinic said in a statement.

The babies were getting ready for the event, wearing adorable onesies labeled “Total Solar Eclipse” and sporting eye masks that resembled eclipse glasses.

“While our little patients won’t be venturing outside to witness the solar eclipse, we want them to remember this day,” said Dana Traci, a nurse practitioner in the Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cleveland Clinic.

Nurses expressed their enthusiasm for including babies in milestone moments and organized a special photo shoot to capture the occasion.

Katrina Wiedenfeld, another NICU nurse, added: “We cherish every opportunity to celebrate with our NICU babies, whether it’s a holiday, a milestone, or something like Such celestial activity.”

“I styled my patient with her eclipse onesie, a classic baby hat with a bow, and colorful pants so we could take fun photos,” Weidenfeld said. “These families now have this special onesie as a keepsake to commemorate the total solar eclipse in Ohio.”

Families will take commemorative photos of their children to commemorate this rare celestial phenomenon.

The total solar eclipse, scheduled to occur on Monday, April 8, will be visible across North America. In Cleveland, viewers can witness nearly four minutes of totality at around 3:13 p.m. local time.

As the solar eclipse moves across the United States, it will create jaw-dropping moments for people in multiple states.

In Ohio, this is a big event not only for astronomy enthusiasts, but also for the children in Cleveland Clinic’s Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, who are experiencing their own celebration of the universe.