Swings in SCN

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2011

We use the vibrating bouncy chairs, rather than swings. It works for newborns as well. You can actually set them in the crib, put the baby in, raise the side rails, and the child is still secure in the crib and can remain attached to the monitoring system easily. I don't know what our policy is though.

beecraft · Oct 19, 2011

Thanks Ashley. We're an SCN so we just have the tiny basinettes. I was thinking we'd have to use something that could sit on the floor. Something easy to clean between uses.

DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2011

We have swings in the nursery for our NAS babies. I will see if I can pull the policy and I'll get back with you--not even sure if we have one.

We also use the vibrating bouncy seats.

The Neonatologists bought us the swings. We often have three NAS babies a month.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 19, 2011

We use bouncy seats too - but don't know that there is a policy for it. Our neos are aware of and okay with it, though. (Keep in mind, this is not a NICU I'm talking about.)

Just a thought - we have had NAS babies that have been there so long they outgrow their bassinets and we've had to borrow cribs from peds. Is that an option? That way you could maybe do what the previous poster mentioned - in the bouncer but still in their crib.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 19, 2011

We quit using the swings because newborns crunch down in them and may lose their airway. We documented low sats on normal well-babies. Bouncy seats or re-positioning in bed was better, for us.

beecraft · Oct 19, 2011

Thanks everyone. I have heard concerns regarding the airway in swings but had never heard it actually documented. They would be on monitors in the SCN but I wonder what message we'd be sending the parents for home use. Hmmm. I see Fisher Price have one that serves as a swing and a bouncie seat that I'd like to hear more about. Of course, you'd have to be able to sanitize it easily between babies. Which models are people using? Also, Elvish, we don't have a peds unit in our hospital so no cribs. We're only a level 2 so the babies aren't there that long, thankfully.

Also, I went to the AWHONN in Denver this year and one of the speakers runs a clinic that allows babies to go home on Methadone - are many folks doing that?

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 19, 2011

We never EVER send a baby home on any sort of opiate taper, methadone or otherwise.

This is the brand of bouncer we use:

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Ocean-Wonders-Aquarium-Bouncer/dp/B000324Y7U

We also line it with a hospital blanket between babies in addition to cleaning it. One extra layer between the seat and whatever spitup may happen.

beecraft · Oct 19, 2011

Thanks Elvish. Do you have a policy?

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 19, 2011

I don't know if we do. I will have to ask around and/or look when I get back to work Saturday. No one has ever asked!

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Oct 19, 2011

We use the ones that look round....babies don't get scrunched up in them and they are somewhat nested. http://www.ecrater.com/p/7721856/fisher-price-butterfly-garden-papasan http://www.bing.com/shopping/j1314-soothing-motions-glider-freestanding-swing/p/2F88197E2E91A2BA58A2?q=infant+swings&lpf=0&lpq=infant%2bswings&FORM=CMSMEE

These are the ones we have, we have used donated monies for them, so we have 6 of them. They are a godsend! All the plastic parts get washed down with the microwipes.

I know in our policy, and it carries over to our newborn nursery, the babies have to be on a pulseox or monitor while in the swing, must be strapped in. We line it with a chux and blanket. If it becomes soiled we have a washer and dryer we can use.