Carseats for premies less than 5 pounds

Specialties NICU

Published

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

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

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

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I know several Corificeat techs I will ask them and get back to you :)

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Specializes in NICU.

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

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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 corificeat 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.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Carbeds...yipes! Do the parents have to buy it? If we get them in the corificeat 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!

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Specializes in NICU.

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.

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Specializes in NICU.

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 corificeats 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.

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Specializes in NICU.

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.

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Specializes in NICU.

We used to loan carbeds. However, the concern came that people aren't supposed to use used corificeats 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.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

If there is a program (hospital auxiliary, perhaps?) that provides car seats for indigent pts, see if you can get a carbed or 2 out of that deal.

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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.

You really send home 1400gm kids?! We never even send home IUGR 35 weekers at that weight!

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