by PremieOne

My NICU and several others in my area are having problems trying to find a car seat company that produces car seats that will hold premies that weigh < 4.5 pounds. We are discharging more infants home that are weighing less than 5 pounds. Does anyone know of a company the provides car seats that will safely hold these small precious infants? How are other NICUs dealing with this problem?

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

We usually just use blanket rolls to secure them. Or some of them have bumper inserts that help hold the baby in more snugly.

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

I know several Carseat techs I will ask them and get back to you

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

We send a lot of kids home that are less than 5 pounds ....... they all go home in carbeds.

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

Originally Posted by RainDreamer

We send a lot of kids home that are less than 5 pounds ....... they all go home in carbeds.

Ouch! That must be pricey! We discharge over 2kg. Our carseat program uses Saftey 1st OnBoard. Chicco Key Fit is for 4+ pounds as well. Graco Snugride, a few years ago, had a 27" style that was good for the 4 pounders, but they discontinued it.

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

Carbeds...yipes! Do the parents have to buy it? If we get them in the carseat and secure them in with the rolls and things and they flunk the challenge, they buy a longer stay!

The ones the PP said are good...just make sure it is snug by the crotch so baby can't slip out during a crash!

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

Yep, those carebeds are pricey! Fortunately, no the parents don't have to buy them. Luckily we have a huge unit and many programs, one of those programs helps fund the carbeds.

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

Our car seat techs almost uniformly tell parents not to use the pre-made bumpers for premies because they are not size appropriate. They will approve kids to go home in carseats labeled for 5 pounds and greater even if they're not if they fit well with blanket rolls. That sounds like a liability to me to recommend it, but I'm wondering if it's because the weight refers more to the fit of the belts rather than true poundage. We occasionally send home in car bed, typically for kids with ongoing respiratory or apnea issues or fairly small for discharge (1400-1700 grams). We will try a second car seat test a few days later, but if they're ready to go home from all other standpoints, we give them a carbed. Much cheaper than an unwarranted hospital stay.

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

We loan carbeds to the ones who fail the Challenge test twice. Usually they are only needed for a few weeks. It doesn't often happen.

re: Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

We used to loan carbeds. However, the concern came that people aren't supposed to use used carseats from other people because you don't know if it's ever been in an accident. If we are loaning carbeds out, how can we guarantee they are accident-free when they come back? We can't. We can only rely on honesty. So now we just give carbeds out. Financially, it's not the best deal, but we don't send enough kids home in them to really take a hit.