Helping local families on their NICU journey.

Friends of Peanut creates free resources and provides support for families navigating NICU stays in the Chicago area. Born from our own 103-day journey, everything we build exists to make an impossible situation feel a little more manageable.

A swaddled newborn resting in a NICU isolette

What We Do

Supporting families while they support their little ones.

Free Resources

We create tools and resources, including Roo, our NICU companion app, to help families stay organized, informed, and supported.

Family Guides

Educational materials and guides created from lived experience, designed to help families navigate the NICU with more confidence and less confusion.

Local Impact

The funds we raise go to building these resources, and directly helping NICU families in our area.

By the Numbers

Why this work matters.

1 in 10
Babies in the US born premature
380,000+
Babies admitted to the NICU each year
1 in 100
Babies born with a congenital heart defect
103
Days our family spent in the NICU
Our Flagship Project

Roo: A NICU Companion App

Roo helps NICU parents stay organized and feel more in control during their stay. Rounds notes, growth tracking, care team management, and more. Built in English and Spanish with iCloud Family Sharing so family can stay in sync.

Rounds Notes
Growth Tracking
Care Team Organizer
NICU Glossary
Question Bank
Family Sharing
Bilingual Support
Data Export
Learn more about Roo
Roo app screenshot showing the NICU companion dashboard

Support Our Mission

100% for families.

Friends of Peanut is a nonprofit organization. Every donation goes directly to providing free resources and support for NICU families.