A tiny hand relaxes.
A newborn becomes calmer in someone’s arms.
A parent gets a chance to step away for a moment.
These moments may not appear in a dramatic headline, but they can matter deeply to the people living through the experience.
Whitlow seems to understand this naturally.
He does not arrive expecting applause.
He does not need a dramatic result.
He simply wants to be useful.
“I pretty much just want to be with them,” he told WTVR CBS 6.
That sentence captures the simplicity of his approach.
He is present.
He pays attention.
He offers care.
The importance of not replacing parents
It is also important to understand what a volunteer cuddler does not do.
A cuddler does not replace a parent’s love.
Parents remain central to a baby’s emotional and developmental care whenever they can be present and involved. Hospitals work with families to support bonding, participation in care, and appropriate contact.
Whitlow’s role is complementary.
He helps create a supportive environment around the baby and family.
For parents who cannot remain at the bedside continuously, knowing that a trusted volunteer is offering comfort may provide reassurance.
The work is not about filling a parent’s place.
It is about making sure that care and compassion continue to surround the child.
5. A Retired Government Manager Finds a New Purpose
Whitlow’s story is especially touching because of where it began.
He spent 43 years working in local government, a career that required responsibility, organization, and a broad understanding of how decisions affect communities.
In retirement, he found himself looking for a different kind of contribution.
His earlier volunteer experiences were meaningful, but something was missing.
Then he found the NICU.
The contrast between his former career and his new role is striking.
As a government manager, he worked with large systems and community-wide responsibilities.
As a baby cuddler, he focuses on one small human being at a time.
He described the difference to the hospital:
“Now I look at everything from 10 inches. I’m in the moment and it’s spectacular.”
The image is unforgettable.
After decades of looking at the big picture, Whitlow discovered the power of focusing on something very small.
A baby’s face.
A tiny hand.
A soft breath.
A moment of peace.
His work is a reminder that purpose does not always arrive in the form of a prestigious title or a major achievement.
Sometimes, purpose looks like showing up twice a week.
Sometimes, it means learning a new skill at an age when many people are settling into a quieter routine.
Sometimes, it means discovering that the thing you were looking for was not a new career at all.
It was a chance to care.
6. The “Baby Whisperer” Who Knows Every Child Is Different
The NICU team has affectionately called Whitlow a “baby whisperer.”
The nickname reflects his ability to connect with infants, but he is quick to explain that there is no secret formula.
He simply pays attention.
Every baby has a different temperament.
Some babies may be more easily soothed by gentle rocking. Others may prefer a still, quiet hold. Some may respond to a soft voice. Others may need less stimulation.
Whitlow has learned to watch and listen.
He knows when a baby seems ready to sleep.
He knows when a baby appears interested in staying awake.
He understands that comfort is not always about doing more.
Sometimes, it is about doing less.
Sitting quietly.
Holding gently.
Allowing the baby to rest.
This ability to adapt has made him valuable to the nursing team.
It has also helped him build a relationship with the families.
A little kindness for the people caring for babies
Whitlow’s kindness extends beyond the infants.
According to the hospital, he sometimes brings energy bars for the NICU staff.
It is a small gesture, but it shows how he sees the unit.
He does not view his work as separate from the nurses, doctors, therapists, and other people caring for the babies.
He sees himself as part of a team.
The hospital’s staff have spoken warmly about him, describing the difference they notice when he is around.
His presence brings energy.
His calmness brings reassurance.
And his willingness to help gives him a place in the daily rhythm of the unit.
This is another important lesson in volunteering.
The people who provide care also need care.
Healthcare workers carry emotional responsibilities that can be difficult to describe. They celebrate progress, worry about setbacks, support families, and work through long days.
A kind volunteer may not be able to solve every challenge.
But they can bring a moment of lightness.
They can offer encouragement.
They can remind the team that their work matters.
Whitlow appears to do all three.
7. From Tiny Patients to Growing Children
Over the years, Whitlow estimates that he has held more than 500 babies.
That number is difficult to imagine.
Five hundred newborns.
Five hundred families.
Hundreds of tiny lives beginning in an environment filled with medical equipment, uncertainty, and hope.
Some of those babies may have spent only a short time in his arms.
Others may have needed longer hospital stays.
Some may have been too fragile to hold, receiving comfort in other ways.
But each child became part of his story.
One of the most meaningful moments came during a NICU reunion.
Whitlow had the opportunity to see children he had once held as premature babies.
They were seven and eight years old.
Now, they were running, playing, and laughing.
The sight offered something that can be difficult to find inside a NICU: a glimpse of what comes next.
In the hospital, much of the focus is on the present.
Is the baby breathing well?
Is the baby gaining weight?
Can the baby feed?
Is the baby ready for the next step?
The future may feel distant.
But a reunion can make that future visible.
A child who once fit into the smallest corner of an incubator is now running across a room.
A baby whose parents once watched monitors with worry is now laughing and playing.
The transformation is a reminder of how much can happen after the earliest days of life.
What Whitlow hopes for every baby
Before returning each baby to their bed, Whitlow whispers his six words.
“Grow strong. Grow smart. Grow kind.”
He has explained that the phrase reflects what he wants for people in general.
The words are not a medical promise.
They are a blessing.
A hope.
A message of encouragement for a child who has already faced a difficult beginning.
“Grow strong” can represent physical resilience and the ability to meet life’s challenges.
“Grow smart” can represent curiosity, learning, and the freedom to discover the world.
“Grow kind” may be the most meaningful of all.
Because strength and intelligence can take a person far.
But kindness determines how they treat others along the way.
Whitlow wants all three.
And he offers that hope to every baby he holds.
8. What Makes This Story So Powerful?
At first glance, Dave Whitlow’s story might seem like a simple feel-good moment.
An older man cuddles babies.
He whispers a sweet phrase.
He enjoys his volunteer work.
But the story carries deeper meaning.
Purpose can be found at any age
Whitlow began this chapter of his life after retirement.
He did not need to be young to make a difference.
He did not need a new professional qualification.
He needed willingness, patience, and a desire to help.
His story shows that meaningful contribution is not limited to one stage of life.
People can find new purpose after retirement, after a career change, or after years of focusing on family and work.
The opportunity may look different for everyone.
For Whitlow, it looked like a NICU.
Small acts can have lasting meaning
Holding a baby for an hour may not seem like a world-changing event.
But for a newborn who needs comfort, it can be a meaningful part of the day.
For a nurse who has several responsibilities at once, a volunteer who can safely soothe a baby may offer practical support.
For a family who cannot always be present, knowing that their child is receiving attentive care may be reassuring.