I hope you are getting to see your niece.  That relationship is very important, as you know.  My nieces mean the world to me.  I hope that they still know this.  Extended family is VERY important for children.  It helps them feel more secure in the world.  Everyone worries, from time to time, what will happen to them if their parents died or left for some reason.  Kids need these “other adults” in their lives.  However, in the state we live in these related adults: grandparents, uncles, aunts have no legal rights.  If they upset the parents somehow, the parent can separate the child from them.  This happens UNLESS the aunt, uncle, grandparent becomes an EVERYDAY part of the child’s life.  If the child counts on this adult on a daily basis, they have more rights.  So…be amazing aunts!  Tread carefully with the parents of your niece and try to become an everyday part of baby’s life.