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Tips for Preemies Many people are surprised to learn that not all infant seats fit preemies well. Some infant seats don't even fit normal size newborns well! The other surprise is that some convertible seats and even preemies very well. What makes a seat fit a preemie?
Isn't it true that most seats start with a 5 pound minimum weight? Yes. But there are some seats that can be used for babies under 5 pounds, as follows (the number in parentheses is the height of the lowest shoulder strap):
What is the "Car Seat Test?" This is a test to see if the baby is safe to ride in a rear-facing child safety seat. The semi upright position of the rear-facing child safety seat is a stressful position for a baby, compared to laying flat. During the test, the baby is strapped into a rear-facing safety seat while the hospital monitors watch the baby's heart rate, breathing and oxygen level. A baby "fails" the test if his heart rate drops (bradycardia) OR his oxygen level drops (desaturation) OR he stops breathing (apnea). A baby who "fails" the test will need to ride in a car bed. Who should get a Car Seat Test? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies born before 37 weeks get a car seat test. Other babies who should get a car seat test before going home are those:
Tips for passing the Car Seat Test:
Who needs a car bed? Car beds are for use only by babies who have a medical need to lay flat. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a baby (even a 4 pound preemie) who can tolerate sitting in a semi-upright position should ride in a rear-facing safety seat, not a car bed. A car bed is a safe option for babies for whom there is no other option. However, a rear-facing safety seat offers better protection than a car bed for a baby who can tolerate sitting semi-upright. Rear-facing safety seats have an excellent track record in all real world crashes of providing the best protection in any type of crash. In a rear-facing safety seat, the shell of the safety seat does a tremendous amount to absorb the crash forces and distribute them on the strongest parts of the baby's body--the baby's entire back. A car bed's shell is not able to do as much, especially in a side impact. Babies who fail the car seat test and leave the hospital in a car bed should have a plan in place for when they will be retested in a rear-facing safety seat. What Car Beds are available? Angel Guard Products Angel Ride Infant Car Bed. This goes from birth to 9 pounds and 21.5 inches. Babies with taller torsos may need a longer harness, available from the manufacturer. Dorel Cosco Dream Ride SE. Goes from 5 to 20 pounds. Traveling with medical equipment? Here are some tips: Some children must travel with devices such as apnea monitors, oxygen tanks and ventilators. Secure these devices in the vehicle so that they do not become flying objects in a crash or sudden stop. At this time, there is no single product available to secure medical devices. Try wedging the equipment on the vehicle floor with pillows or securing it with seat belts not being used by a passenger. Make sure that any devices that use batteries have enough power for your entire trip. Are you a physician or nurse working in a well baby nursery or neonatal intensive care unit? This 2 page handout is a fantastic guide for helping ensure new babies leave the hospital safely.
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