Anyone out there tried to use/find infant car beds for babies under 5#??? All carseats seem to start at 5# and up, and I'm sure our trips will be smaller than that when we bring them home. I am 26wks with G/G/B trips and can't find car beds anywhere! I found only 2 on the internet. I have a book that states Graco and Cosco make them, but went to their websites and couldn't find them.

Or did you just ignore the manufacturer's suggestions and bring your less-than-5-lb babies home in regular infant or convertible car seats???

Please help!

Amy

Amy, mommy of Team Pea Pods

http://lilypie.com>

My girls were all around 4# when they came home from the NICU and I had Baby Trend infant seats. I just bought special preemie inserts to go into the infant seats till the girls were well over 8lbs. Then I used a regular insert in the seats till they grew out of those.

HTH's

Audrey
SAHM
GGG"s 5-9-2003 (34weeks)

thanks for your response. I don't know what preemie inserts are though. Are you talking about the half circle thing that goes above their head? Please forgive my ignorance...
where would I find them?

amy

Amy, mommy of Team Pea Pods

http://lilypie.com>

yes, thats what I am talking about They were for preemies not just newborns. I think we got them at baby depot outlet. I think wal-mart has them also.

Audrey
SAHM
GGG"s 5-9-2003 (34weeks)

Some hospitals have these to loan, or they did back when my boys were born. You might want to ask about that when you do a tour of the NICU. It doesn't hurt to ask the question, and they might have them available, that sure would save you some $$.

Pam
BBB 9/98

Pam
BBB 9/98

I would not go out and buy these yet.

All 3 of my babies were under 4# when they came home and all 3 passed their car seat tests and were able to come home in their regular infant carrier/car seat.

Had we needed them, the hospital where we delivered had one available for loan and also you could purchase them from their in house pharmacy.

http://lilypie.com>

"

I will definitely check into what the hospital has... it would be nice if we didn't have to buy them. JesTrips, what did you mean when you said all 3 passed their car seat tests? I'm not sure what state you live in, but I haven't heard of that in WI.

I saw some unused car beds on ebay too, so I better call my hospital first.

amy

Amy, mommy of Team Pea Pods

http://lilypie.com>

Unless the NICU tells you you HAVE to get a car bed, I don't see why you would. They will not let you take the babies home in something that's not safe - our babies were all around 4 1/2 lbs when we brought them home, and they all came home in infant carseats. The NICU did a 90 "Car Seat Challenge" with each baby - they put the babies in their seats with all of their monitors still attached and watched them for 90 minutes to make sure respiration, pulse, and oxygen levels remained normal. I have no doubt that your hospital will do the same - they can't let you take the babies home in something that you shouldn't be using. I was told that car beds should only be used if your Dr. says so - otherwise carseats are fine with proper neck support. We used rolled up blankets - the inserts seemed to squish their heads down.

Misty Lee
BBB Spontaneous Triplets
Born Nov. 8, 2004 at 33 weeks 3 days

This, too, shall pass