premie car seat!

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Permalink Reply by Mindi on May 20, 2009 at 6:30pm

Julie, There are places everywhere that help locally. Try calling your local fire dept. They might be able to help you there. If she can't make calls then maybe you can call on her behalf.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Hutchison on May 20, 2009 at 7:39pm

How much do the babies weigh? And what is her budget?

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Permalink Reply by c. renee johnson tyler on May 20, 2009 at 9:12pm

contact your area hospital patient rep they will have a list of groups that can help her
also area churches and welfare offices also have lists

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Permalink Reply by Cyn on May 28, 2009 at 8:01am

We used a regular infant seat with a Kiddopotamus Snuzzler insert for our preemie. If you can borrow the seats and just purchase the inserts ($13 at Amazon.com), that should be pretty low cost. Our boy came home weighing about 4 pounds and the nurses tested him in the seat before he was able to come home.

Good luck and congratulations to your friend!

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Permalink Reply by Lana on May 28, 2009 at 8:46am

Congats to your friend. My sister had twins at 31 weeks and they are 11 years old now.

As to your question, It depends what state. Try Safekids.org for a resource. Call a local WIC office and see what programs the hospital has. Here is an example from Pennsylvania that I forwarded to a friend living there. Most local programs with with SafeKids.Org so go to thier website or give them a call.

Safe Kids Worldwide
1301 Pennsylvania Ave, N. W.
Suite 1000
Washington DC 20004
Phone: 202-662-0600|
Fax: 202-393-2072
E-mail: info@safekids.org

Here is the PA Example:
Blue Mountain Health Systems
211 N. 12 St., Leighton, PA 18235-9989

610-377-7070

Provides car seats for a ten-month period, through their Woman Wise Project. Infant and convertible seats (up to 40 lbs.) also booster seats available. Deposit $30.00, when returned in good condition, receive $18.00 back. Call to reserve.

Do a google search for your area and see what assistance programs out there. About 12 years ago, I was in the sitution. I got into with some local and ended up paying $15 for a carseat. There are a lot of great programs out there and I am sure your shouldn't have problem finding the adjustments need for a premie seat.

Here is some information from Parents.com on requirements for premies in carseats.

8 Car Seat Essentials for Preemies
By the editors of American Baby magazine From:


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Tiny babies need extra care, including a special car seat.

If you've given birth to a preemie, you'll need to take special considerations are necessary to ensure his safe transportation. Small infants in car safety seats need to be positioned in a way that can protect baby's respiratory system, while providing protection in the event of a crash or sudden stop.

Here are some specific guidelines for preemie car seat safety:

1. Choose an infant-only car safety seat with a three-point harness system, or a convertible car safety seat with a five-point harness. These systems provide optimum comfort, fit, and positioning for the premature or small infant. A preemie should not be placed in a car safety seat with a shield, abdominal pad, or arm rest that could come into direct contact with his face and neck during an impact. Similarly, car safety seats designed for use only by children who weigh more than 20 pounds should not be used for small infants.

2. Use a car safety seat with a distance of less than 5 1/2 inches from the crotch strap to the seat back. This reduces the potential for baby to slump forward. Try using a small rolled diaper or blanket between the crotch strap and the infant to reduce slouching.

3. Choose a car safety seat with a distance of less than 10 inches from the lower harness strap to the seat bottom. This reduces the potential for harness straps to cross the infant's ears.

4. Position the baby in the car safety seat with his back flat against the back of the seat. You can place rolled blankets on both sides of him to provide lateral support for his head and neck.

5. In rear-facing car safety seats for infants, set shoulder straps in the lowest slots until the infant's shoulders are above the slots. Make sure the harness is snug, and the car safety seat's retainer clip is positioned at the midpoint of the infant's chest -- not on the abdomen or in the neck area.

6. Recline the seat halfway back, at a 45-degree tilt. You can wedge a firm roll of cloth or newspaper under the car safety seat below the baby's feet to achieve this angle.

7. Don't place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front passenger seat of any car equipped with a passenger-side front air bag. All infants weighing less than 20 pounds and younger than 1 year of age must ride rear facing when secured in standard car safety seats.

8. Never leave an infant unattended in a car safety seat.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others

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Permalink Reply by Alicia Haddigan on July 13, 2009 at 5:34pm

I had 28 weekers - the people in the NICU were a big help with finding a good seat. We got Chicco - they were pricey but the nicu people said they were the best for tiny ones. mine was only 5lbs when he came home.

Alicia Haddigan
www.babysitease.com

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