Carseat?

OrganicTeacher · March 2012

Ok - so we got our car seat at our shower today - and it is beautiful!!! Except... I just realized, it is made for 5lbs and up. WTH. Wesley is currently around 3lbs 4oz - and while we don't know when he will be released - I can assume that the hospital wont let him leave the nicu in a seat that isnt rated correctly for him (and I really am not comfortable with him riding in a seat that is like that anyway....) We still have a long haul to go in NICU... and there is a good chance he could be above the 5lb mark when we leave, but the real question here is - how many of you had to go buy a different car seat because your kid was too light for it? And what make/model was it?

Natalie_may · March 2012

I would certainly wait before making a decision on the car seat. It sounds like you have a way to go before discharge and a lot can change in that time. There are car seats rated down to 4 lbs on the market but as I said I wouldn't make any returns just yet. As for my experience, my 2 lb 14 oz at birth 27 week twin b who was discharged at 37 weeks ga adjusted was 5lbs 10oz when he came home. My 2 lb 11 oz twin a came home at just over 8 lbs but was there until 1 week adjusted, so 14 weeks total. The Nicu moms I am friendly with (babies born between 24 and 32 weeks) had babies over 5 lbs at discharge as well. 5 lbs might seem impossibly huge at the moment but it is amazing how quickly they can get there. HTH and congratulations on Wesley, he is adorable.

KatFCo · March 2012

Talk to your nurse, but like you said, there's probably a good chance he'll be abve 5 lb before he goes home.

Also, if he's had any breathing issues, they'll do a carseat test before releasing him--they'll put him in the carseat, hooked up to monitors for a little while to make sure he can handle the seat.

snoangel79 · March 2012

We have the keyfit 30s they are 4lbs and up.

mcvgal · March 2012

we have the ketfit 30 as well, but Manuel was well over 5lbs before he came home, so it really didn't matter. as pp mentioned, i'd wait it out

DoingItRight · March 2012

Brooklyn and Blake both came home under 5 pounds we have baby trend seats. The NICU that they were in required an insert to be put in the seat. I asked about exchanging the seats.

Floridamom224 · March 2012

I have an Eddie Bauer and it is for 4 pounds and it. FWIW, DD couldnt be D/C'ed from the NICU until she was 4.5 lbs

shanlubey · March 2012

Sam was nearly 8 pounds when he came home, but I did have a carseat for babies 4+ pounds (a safety 1st).

spain116 · March 2012

We also had the carseat test. It was required for release from the NICU. I would ask about that before exchanging the seat. In our case, it was about 3 days before LO was scheduled for release, so if needed, we had time to get a new seat.

LO was 7lb, 3 oz at discharge, so the usual infant seat was fine for her.

njdcgirl · March 2012

snoangel79:
We have the keyfit 30s they are 4lbs and up.

This. We had initially registered for another seat, that was 5 lbs and up, and then changed to this soon after DS was born. He was just over 8 lbs when he came home, (43 weeks) so it was really not necessary at all. LOL.

If you like the one you have, and can return it later, I'd just keep it and only exchange it if you need to. You'll know when he is close to going home and can make a decision then if you need to exchange it.

gfornkohl · March 2012

you might check with the nicu first. at our hospital they hae a car seat made for preemies they give you if under 5lbs to take baby in...they might also

jcsntms06 · March 2012

snoangel79:
We have the keyfit 30s they are 4lbs and up.

We have the keyfit 30 and my DD came home at 4lbs 5oz. I would probably wait until it's closer to discharge to make a decision about the car seat.

haziedaze · March 2012

Henry came home at 4lbs 14oz in a Chicco Keyfit... it was a coincidence that that was the one we choose, but it worked out. Maybe keep the gift receipt and see what happens as you get closer.

lexismom1008 · March 2012

DS came home weighing 3lb 13oz in a Graco that was rated for 5lbs and up. He passed his carseat test, so they said it wasn't a problem.

Idomoodou2 · March 2012

DD came home at 4 pounds, our first carseat was a babytrend rated for 5 pounds, which was not an issue, however the straps wouldn't start low enough, so i had to return. Wait until you get closer to the time he comes home. I was running around the day before she was discharged exchanging carseats. It was a good way to keep me from getting nervous.

cookiemonster03 · March 2012

Both of ours came home under 5 lbs (4lbs12oz and 4lbs4oz) in Gracos rated 5 lbs and up. The NICU didn't care. They both passed 5 lbs within 10 days of being home, so they literally rode in them for 3 miles before being at the limit.

flutepharm87 · March 2012

While you'll most likely take home a baby that's over 5lbs, I would start looking now for another carseat now just in case. You don't have to purchase it, just look for one and find out what store stocks it. Ian was 4lb 10oz when he was born and was only in the NICU for 8 days. When he left, he was 4lbs 6oz. We were really happy that we got our Graco Snugride 30's because they were rated down to 4lbs, so we ran into no problems taking him home. You'll most likely be fine, but you never know. I'd check around, just to be safe. And if you haven't opened your current carseat, don't. That way, you'll have an easy return if you need it.

OrganicTeacher · March 2012

I asked last night and they said that it doesn't matter what their ending weight is in the NICU and there is no magic number. The baby goes home when he can do all the requirements that they have for him. That's it. So I am just trying to think ahead. Although - they added the Growth booster to my milk yesterday and sure enough he gained 2 oz last night! HOLY CRAP! So he is now 3lbs 5oz. They may be pulling his IV later today - which is awesome too - so we will see!!!!

May524 · March 2012

DS2 was under 5lbs at discharge and our car seat starts at 6lbs. Our NICU had no problem releasing us.

PhoenixRising11 · March 2012

I am a NICU nurse, and we would release your baby in a carseat rated for 5 pounds and up even if he were a little under 5 pounds, as long as he passed his carseat tolerance test. We do these on any baby born under 37 weeks (even those who never come to the NICU...it gets done in NBN). We are not allowed to tell you what carseat to use...our job is to make sure your baby is safe in the carseat you choose. As you get closer to discharge, if you are still concerned, you could investigate a carseat rated for lower weights, but it may not be necessary.

lwmooney87 · March 2012

We have the Combi Shuttle 33 I think it's called. I would definitely wait before doing anything... my DD was 2lbs 11 oz at birth (29 weeks) and was 5lbs 14oz after an 8 week NICU stay. (They plump those babies up good in a short time)

Congrats! I hope he gets to come home soon!

hunt2005 · March 2012

My guy was 5 pounds by the time he came home but I still needed a new carseat because the Graco I had didn't fit with him lengthwise. We got the S1 by Safety first because with how short my girls were they wouldn't have even fit in the Chicco well (the crotch to chest strap was too big of a space for them).

kitkat145 · March 2012

I want to throw this out there because I didn't see it mentioned..in case you do need a new carseat, check with your hospital or another nearby hospital if they sell any carseats at cost. They had this at our nicu and I got the Chicco Keyfit 30 for $120.

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