beanie babies

[anon456]

Does anyone else's hospital give away beanie babies? Our hospital for years has always had a huge stock of them in every treat cart, treatment room, and outpatient centers. Most are older beanies with plastic tag protectors like they belonged in someone's collection and were donated. I wonder how many thousands of beanie babies there are in circulation, and what we will do when they run out?? ;-)

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Our NICU doesn't allow any stuffed animals from any source, even parents. They can harbour MRSA, etc unless they can be washes regularly.

[RN*mommy]

I know my old hospital wouldn't give out beanie babies in the NICU. The infection risk for sure, but the safe sleep issues as well. I was constantly pulling stuffed animals and the like out of cribs and then doing the safe sleep speech with the families. I wouldn't want to encourage anything by giving out stuffed animals. For older children, sure...but not in the NICU.

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

They can harbour MRSA, etc unless they can be washes regularly.

We have this same problem with parents. Unfortunately we can't guarantee their washing

[canned_bread]

That's so awesome! We give teddies that are hand-made and donated, and random toys and what not.