Petit Lem Partners with Canadian Premature Babies Foundation to Donate Scent Cloths to NICU Families Across Canada
FrançaisMade from leftover organically grown cotton from Petit Lem's Layette collection, these cloths offer a meaningful way to keep parents and babies close while giving new life to existing materials.
MONTREAL, Nov. 4, 2026 /CNW/ -- This Prematurity Awareness Month, Montreal-based baby and sleepwear brand Petit Lem is partnering with the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) to donate scent cloths to NICU families across Canada. The cloths will be delivered directly to hospitals beginning in early November.
Research highlights that a parent's scent plays a meaningful role in soothing premature babies, making this initiative an essential extension of CPBF and Petit Lem's work together.¹ Seeing an opportunity to help, Petit Lem quickly mobilized its textile resources into a nationwide donation.
A scent cloth offers a simple yet meaningful way to help maintain the bond that parents and their newborns may experience in the NICU, providing a comforting connection even when they cannot be together. By wearing a cloth close to their skin, a parent infuses it with their scent before leaving it with their baby in the NICU so their familiar scent is always there. To bring the project to life, Petit Lem upcycled leftover Layette fabric featuring elephant and duckie prints, crafted exclusively for this donation. Each family will receive an instruction guide and a pair of cloths allowing one to stay with the baby while the other one remains with the parent, ready to swap.
"For years, we have been strong advocates for premature babies and their families across Canada, supporting initiatives that help bring care, comfort, and connection when it matters most," said Caroline Nadeau, VP Sales & Merchandising at Petit Lem. "This initiative is especially meaningful to us because it allows us to use what we do best, creating soft, thoughtful products for babies, to make a difference in the lives of families who need it most."
"Connection between parents and their babies is so important, especially during their time in the NICU," said Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation. "A parent's familiar scent can bring comfort and reassurance to their baby, helping strengthen their special bond. Through our partnership with Petit Lem, we're excited to give NICU families another meaningful way to share that connection and provide comfort throughout their NICU journey."
With approximately 30,000 babies being born prematurely in Canada each year, this initiative will support thousands of families navigating the NICU journey by keeping them connected to their newborns during critical early days.
About Petit Lem
Founded in 1992, Montreal-based baby and sleepwear brand Petit Lem designs premium-quality products that are gentle on the skin, exceptionally soft, and made to last. Available at leading retailers across North America and Europe, Petit Lem offers a thoughtfully designed range of newborn, toddler, and adult essentials crafted from organically grown cotton, combining everyday comfort with timeless style.
About the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation
As a national parent-led charitable organization, the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) provides education, support, and advocacy for Canada's premature babies and their families. Approximately 30,000 babies are born prematurely every year in Canada. CPBF's goal is to build momentum by continuing to develop peer support programs, distribute helpful materials and resources to families and health care professionals, and investigate how it can better the lives and experiences of premature babies and their families. Visit www.canadianpreemies.org for more information.
¹ A 2026 peer-reviewed study of 69 premature babies found that those exposed to blankets carrying their mother's scent showed lower stress levels and cried for shorter periods. |
Notes to editors
National data on premature births is available from Statistics Canada: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310042601
SOURCE Groupe Lemur Inc.
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