NICU Cribs/Beds

[nickirnak]

We are looking for good options for a crib in the NICU for our larger patients. We often have kids that are >4.5kg & no longer fit the radiant heat warmers, but the floor cribs do not have scales or sides that easily come down, making intubated/trached kids hard to manage in these cribs. Does anyone have ideas? Use a crib that works well for this population?

[Wuzzie]

Hospital Cribs - Neonatal Cribette | Novum Medical

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

I've only seen the cribettes that Wuzzie cited. Pros are that both sides come all of the way down (unfortunately the ends are immobile), and some have a lever to control the angle of HOB elevation (vs. propping up a bassinet HOB with a blanket). The cons are that it doesn't include a scale, and the entire crib can't be elevated or lowered like a radiant warmer.

If such a crib doesn't exist, some nurse entrepreneur should totally create that!!!! I get that a normal cribette can suffice for most big kids, but it would be so helpful to have a crib with an incorporated scale and ability to elevate/lower for intubated kids.

I suppose you could put them in an isolette that has a removable lid with the lid totally off (some Dragers have removable lids), and treat it like an open crib with all of the bells and whistles of an isolette. That's not how they're meant to be used, but it might work. However, they would probably be too small for many of the kids you've described.

You might also post this question on the PICU forum; they might have some suggestions!

[first123]

We use these and love them.

[first123]

I am looking for nursery/NICU policy on linen changes. There is limited information out there. How often are linens changed in your hospital?

[Wuzzie]

I've only seen the cribettes that Wuzzie cited. Pros are that both sides come all of the way down (unfortunately the ends are immobile), and some have a lever to control the angle of HOB elevation (vs. propping up a bassinet HOB with a blanket). The cons are that it doesn't include a scale, and the entire crib can't be elevated or lowered like a radiant warmer.

You have the option to have the ends drop and a scale too. We had them on ours. So all 4 sides went down which was awesome especially in code situations. We were able to fit pretty big kids in them as well.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

You have the option to have the ends drop and a scale too. We had them on ours. So all 4 sides went down which was awesome especially in code situations. We were able to fit pretty big kids in them as well.

Whaaat?! That's awesome!! I've never seen that brand, but it sounds ideal! Can you adjust the height of the entire bed (not just the head)?

[Julius Seizure]

adventure_rn said:

Whaaat?! That's awesome!! I've never seen that brand, but it sounds ideal! Can you adjust the height of the entire bed (not just the head)?

The ones we have (PICU) allow you to angle up the head of bed, or the foot of the bed, or slight trendelenberg/reverse trendelenberg. But its not as fancy as an adult bed adjustments are. Not crank though; you just push a button. However, you can't raise/lower the height of the whole thing....we just keep stools around for the short nurses.

Has a scale, but it only weights to the nearest 0.1 kg. We weigh anybody

I've seen two sizes, one is shorter than the other. They can hold pretty big kids...parents can even climb into them and be in your way!

This one is made by "Hard Manufacturing", if it helps. Sorry if the link isn't allowed, mods.

[jennylee321]

I am looking for nursery/NICU policy on linen changes. There is limited information out there. How often are linens changed in your hospital?

I've heard of some places having a policy on daily linen changes to help prevent CLABSI.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

We have big(ger) cribs with drop sides for the big babies. We can raise the HOB. We just use regular scales for them. I never thought it was that difficult after doing it a time or two.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

We have really ancient old fashioned versions of the crib pictured above....all our intubated kids would be in giraffes though, with the lid open for big kids

[BrandNewBabyNurse]

We put our low acuity, temp-stable, kids into those cribs in the first post as soon as they're ready, but the ones we have are too small for our bigger kiddos. We put our large/chronic sick kids (lines/vents/trachs/etc.) into these big cribs by Stryker. We keep all 4 of the rails down flush with the edge of the bed, and make a little half moon shaped nest to keep the babies from sliding down the HOB which is kept elevated. Works great for us because it's super easy access to the airway or any other lines/drains.

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