Car Seat Safety at the NICU

Southern Regional Helps Keep Your Baby Safe

Car seat safety is essential for all babies, especially for preemies.

Babies born at less than 37 weeks and babies with other medical conditions that put them at high risk for apnea or oxygen desaturation will receive a car seat test prior to discharge. This is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Car seat testing helps make sure that high-risk infants get home safely. Our expert passenger safety technicians will discuss child safety seat choices with you and provide you with recommended guidelines. A car seat safety packet will be given to you during your baby's hospitalization.

Getting Ready to Go Home

Approximately two weeks prior to your baby's discharge, we will require you to bring in the baby's personal child safety seat. This will allow us to monitor your baby in the safety seat for possible apneas, bradycardias or oxygen desaturation.

Upon discharge, parents need to be familiar with correctly placing their baby in the car safety seat and assuring proper placement of the seat in the vehicle.

For further information regarding car seats, please visit read Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families.