Right On Time
A children’s board book that honors NICU milestones—each on their own timeline.
Right On Time is a beautifully crafted children's board book created for NICU families. It celebrates and honors the unique milestones of NICU babies and their parents—each unfolding on their own timeline. Woven throughout its pages is a diverse representation of the many NICU and milestone journeys that exist, both in and beyond the NICU. This book is an affirmation, a celebration, and an anthem all in one: You and your baby are, and always will be, right on time.
Our Heart Behind This Resource – Written & created for NICU families
What started as a poem became a tangible reminder for families navigating milestones both in and out of the NICU. Right On Time was written as a love story and a reassurance—to honor resilience, release comparison, and celebrate growth exactly as it comes.
This book goes further because of you.
Every purchase of Right On Time directly fuels the mission and movement of Dear NICU Mama—supporting peer connection, meaningful outreach programs, and the delivery of hope-filled resources to NICU families across the country
Ways to give or share
Purchase a Copy: Bring this story home or gift it forward. Every purchase supports Dear NICU Mama’s mission to ensure no NICU parent walks alone.
Donate a Book: Place hope directly into a NICU parent’s hands. Your donated book helps fuel book drives and outreach to families who need it most.
Bulk & Hospital Orders: Support more families, all at once. We offer bulk pricing for hospitals, foundations, and organizations who want to give Right On Time at scale. Contact the Dear NICU Mama Team
About the Author
Ashley Ham
After her son’s early delivery and the exhaustion of tracking so much of his life and development on a chart, Ashley Ham began to question who those milestones were really serving. Like many NICU families, she watched her son work tirelessly to “catch up,” even as the joy and complexity of his growth couldn’t always be captured by numbers or timelines.
Through early intervention and alongside a sisterhood of NICU mothers, Ashley saw how often resilient children—and their parents—felt discouraged by milestones that didn’t leave room for individuality, effort, or love. Right On Time was written as a love story to her son and a reminder to all NICU families that growth is not linear and comparison is not the measure of worth.
This book is an affirmation and a celebration: your baby’s story is unfolding exactly as it should. You and your baby are, and always will be, right on time.
About the Illustrator
Troy Becker
It starts in New York Mills, MN where Troy was born and raised. After an affinity for drawing, comics and art - he graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a B.A. in Art and Communications. After a few stints in Minneapolis, Connecticut and Wisconsin he found himself back in the F-M area. Troy has been an illustrator, cartoonist and graphic artist for Forum Communications for nearly 18 years. Troy also served as an adjunct professor at MSUM from 2015-2020. The art continues in his home studio where he enjoys creating screen prints, comics and graphic novels. You can find his art in local exhibits and commissions across the upper Midwest." Website: https://www.troybeckerart.com/ Email: ttbecker@gmail.com