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Discussion

Chronic babies

What kinds of things do you guys do at your hospital for chronic babies? This could be anything, from care in the hospital to getting ready for discharge.

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    • Featured Replies

    ??? The same as we do for short-term babies - care as indicated, and yes, prepare for discharge. Can you narrow down your question at all?

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    More often than not we have OT and PT come by and PM&R.

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    • Expert

    If they get 6mo or more, and the hospital has a child life program, have that person contribute to the babies care. A dedicated group of "primaries" is essential--the baby needs to have continuity of care.

    Anyway you can make the baby's life "normal" is a good thing. IF s/he can tolerate, try to spend a little time playing, reading, singing, playing hand games, patty cake, while keeping an eye out that the baby doesn't get too tired and/or overstimulated. Stuffed toys that wind up and play something are good. Any kind of baby toy is good. Dressing the baby in real clothes, tub baths, hair do's(if they have hair!). Try to keep the baby on a schedule. Let them sleep @ night w/minimal intervention. If feeding is an issue, let them po what they want during the day, and make up any deficit @ night via gavage. Put them in a bigger crib, use a bouncy seat (w/a seat belt) and a mobile.

    Those are some suggestions, not sure if that's what you're asking for, but....

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    Exactly what are you classifying as chronic babies? Babies in Intensive Care on vents, CPAP etc. What is your definition? All babies irrespective of diagnosis and conditions are treated the same, given developmental care and family centred care encouraged. We use the same care plans for all babies, obviously the more tinier premmie baby are minimally handled so that they can get plenty of rest

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    We try to get them into a regular

    routine and have OT/PT work with them daily.

    For example, I had an 8 month old trached guy a year ago. His day went like this:

    8-9a: get up, face washed, trach care done (ties changes daily), dressed in day clothes. OT or

    PT to work with him until 9a.

    9a: food time, OT offers a

    bottle and some solids just for

    oral stim while his tube feeding goes in.

    Rest of morning until next fees at 1p: up in his chair to

    play with things on his tray or watch something on the portable DVD player. Of course a ton of people

    come by to say hi and play lol.

    1p: he is usually pretty tired by now and sleeps for his tube feed. Dimmed room, as quiet as possible. He sleeps usually a couple of hours.

    3p: usually up, plays until dinner time at 5p. Get him down on his mat with toys.

    5p: dinner, offer solids, usually a cuddler is here to

    play.

    8p: either mom or we do a bath in the tub mom brought. End of the day trach and gtube care, Jammie's on, book or movie.

    9p: tube feed, quiet play, bedtime around 10 or when he falls asleep.

    He he usually slept thru the night, only would get up for a diaper change.

    He was a bear for awhile, by having a routine really helped him. We tried to only have one other baby with him but if we had more or were busy we would see if child life or a cuddler could come play.

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    • Expert

    One tip w/the tub--place it inside a large plastic trash bag, fill, bathe, empty and toss bag as much as possible, and disinfect. Decreases the germs baby is exposed to, makes it easier to keep the tub clean.

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    • Expert

    At first glance, I thought maybe you meant adults who whine a lot, LOL.

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    • Expert
    At first glance, I thought maybe you meant adults who whine a lot, LOL.

    We call those folks "hi-maintanence".

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