Baylor Scott & White in Temple received an overwhelming response to the hospitals need for more "baby cuddler" volunteers.
The hospital said it can no longer meet the numbers, but there are many other ways to volunteer at the hospital.
The opportunities include: Starflower Giftshop at McLane Children's Medical Center, Volunteer Ambassadors, concierge to work in the specialty clinc at McLane Children's Medical Center to direct families to the proper locations.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, click here.
"Our volunteers come up and they are able to hold the babies and proved developmental support through upright holding, they read to our patients," Child Life Specialist Roxanne Michel said.
Pre-mature babies struggle to develop basic survival needs including their Autonomic System, which are things we learn to do automatically. Through cuddling, babies can get help with those developmental skills.
"Our heartbeat, our breathing, regulating our body temperature so through holding premature infants, they can feel your heartbeat, your breathing so you can help them regulate their system as well," Michel said.
The program allows for anyone who passes a background check and goes through some training to snuggle babies for hours on end.
Debra Moore is a cuddler and has been going to the hospital weekly for the last four years.
"Every Wednesday I am here getting my endorphins going and hopefully helping a little baby," Moore said.
Moore said even though it took some training to get involved in the program, she wouldn't change a thing.
"It wasn't difficult, it was a little time consuming at first because I was supposed to have 50 hours of volunteering before I even touched a baby, but when I got to finally hold a baby it was all worth it," Moore said.
Program officials said they need cuddlers for the weekend.
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