re: Preemie carseat

<blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" I'll add this to my list of questions for the hospital tour I'm taking later this month (I plan to do ... [snip!] ... pumps if she's in the NICU too. That'll be nice because I HATE pumping and won't do it much at all if she can take the breast."</blockquote>




I hate pumping too, but it was nice because my girls were too young to breastfeed. They weren't even allowed to try for about a week after they were born. But I guess it all depends on how early baby is. Sounds like you have a nice plan in place.

Quoting 5 plus 1 equals 6:" <blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" I'll add this to my list of questions ... [snip!] ... about a week after they were born. But I guess it all depends on how early baby is. Sounds like you have a nice plan in place."

I'm trying. I'm plannign for everything (loss, preemie, and term birth) so I'm feeling pulled in 100 directions and no idea which one it will turn out to be. I'm just hoping that I'm prepared enough, whichever way it goes.

<blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" I'm trying. I'm plannign for everything (loss, preemie, and term birth) so I'm feeling pulled in 100 ... [snip!] ... 100 directions and no idea which one it will turn out to be. I'm just hoping that I'm prepared enough, whichever way it goes."</blockquote>




Well I am thinking very positive thoughts for you and your little girl.

I just kinda skimmed through this thread but I'm going to tell you my experience.

We used a graco snugridge 30 and it fit her very nicely. 4lbs-30. She was ok'd to go home in it under 5 lbs. I asked them initially about car bed before I bought the graco. They said that as long as she passed her car seat test and didn't have any medical conditions that would require a car bed that a seat was fine.

You said you are taking a tour of the nicu. You should ask if they offer rooms in hospital for parents to be close, especially if BFing. If they don't , I don't know how close you live but, ask if there's a hotel nearby that offers discount for nicu parents. Ask if they have social workers who work with the new parents to get important paperwork done so they can just focus on their baby. I would also make sure they are more secure during RSV season.

Our hospital, without even asking first, just brought us a heavy duty hospital grade pump and we got to rent it which insurance paid for.

Sorry if that's a lot, I'm trying to think of what I will ask if I end up in that situation again. Good luck! I admit I check in on your posts sometimes and I'm rooting for a nice long healthy pregnancy for you. You and your family deserve it.

<blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" I just kinda skimmed through this thread but I'm going to tell you my experience. We used a graco snugridge ... [snip!] ... I check in on your posts sometimes and I'm rooting for a nice long healthy pregnancy for you. You and your family deserve it."</blockquote>



All good points. I'll put those on my list---I'm pretty sure my hospital does rent pumps and a friend is giving me her medela for home after NICU, so I should be covered.

And the 2 I keep seeing are the graco snug ride and the Chicco key fit. But $150 for a seat I might not need at all or that I'll only use a couple months at best is just insane to me. I wish I had a friend with one I could borrow just in case (ya know someone I know wouldn't loan me a seat that had been in an accident or was expired, etc). Hate to spend so much for something I wouldn't buy at all under normal circumstances and will only use a short time anyway!!!

<blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" I just kinda skimmed through this thread but I'm ... [snip!] ... Hate to spend so much for something I wouldn't buy at all under normal circumstances and will only use a short time anyway!!!"</blockquote>

Oh also ask about siblings being allowed in. Sometimes they aren't allowed during RSV season and sometimes there are age restrictions.

If you had still been in MD you could've borrowed ours   we didn't buy a car seat until DD was due for her car seat test. Don't even fret about it now. Do however, keep your eyes out for any discounted ones at target or walmart. I found our graco myride for almost half retail value cause the print was being discontinued.

If need be, you can also sell infant seat once you are done using it.

I know you have tricare, but our insurance would've continued to allow us to rent the hospital grade pump but I ran dry. They would cover it though since her prematurity was the reason she couldn't BF. If they will cover it, hospital grade is supposed to be incredibly better.

<blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" I just kinda skimmed through this thread but I'm ... [snip!] ... Hate to spend so much for something I wouldn't buy at all under normal circumstances and will only use a short time anyway!!!"</blockquote>

Have you checked the ones they have at wal-mart?

<blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" ... [snip!] ... her prematurity was the reason she couldn't BF. If they will cover it, hospital grade is supposed to be incredibly better."</blockquote>


I'll definitely be asking about symptoms. Not seeing her will TORTURE HIM.

And when is RSV season? I'm due in May, so I'm hoping we make it to at least April before she makes her debut (may 1 is 36w).

And no one here will buy a used seat for more than $30-40...and I'd never buy one at all, so I wouldn't resell, just hand me down to a friend or keep it as the spare for DH's car til baby outgrew it. I love my Diono way too much to use inferior seats regularly  

<blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" ... [snip!] ... or keep it as the spare for DH's car til baby outgrew it. I love my Diono way too much to use inferior seats regularly  "</blockquote>


If you have to buy one how much would you want to spend? I looked on walmart.com and found one for babies 4-22lbs for 54.00

<blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" ... [snip!] ... or keep it as the spare for DH's car til baby outgrew it. I love my Diono way too much to use inferior seats regularly  "</blockquote>

I assume you meant siblings* ;) lol. Rsv season is generally considered over about april/may. I forget the website now, but I think its the cdc offers graphs for each state and you can see when the spike of cases are.

Honestly we still have the infant seat as a backup for my SIL/BILs car just in case, cause she still fits! I hate that we have to use the Graco, I would love something better but even a Graco is more than our monthly food budget!
Hopefully you just won't need a smaller seat!

Quoting P Pickle Pants:" IF she comes at term, I will be using a Diono Radian RXT from birth on, but if she is born teeny, I know ... [snip!] ... so with the steroid shots and me growing big babies, she may not be teeny enough to need the infant seat). SUGGESTIONS?!?"

My carseat was rated for 5lbs+ The hospital I had my boys in said they would let me borrow one from them until the baby was 5lbs ( Ethan was just over this when I brought him home so I didn't have to). GL

<blockquote><b>Quoting B&Js Mommy:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" ... [snip!] ... If you have to buy one how much would you want to spend? I looked on walmart.com and found one for babies 4-22lbs for 54.00"</blockquote>



Around $50 is fine!
Which seat is that?

<blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting P Pickle Pants:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting {tamz}:</b>" ... [snip!] ... love something better but even a Graco is more than our monthly food budget! Hopefully you just won't need a smaller seat!"</blockquote>




We live 3000 from family. So spare seats aren't really needed because all my friends have 1-3 kids each and we can't ride together most of the time anyway!

Anyone without kids just jumps into my car and I drive.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Spackgirrl:</b>" My carseat was rated for 5lbs+ The hospital I had my boys in said they would let me borrow one from them ... [snip!] ... let me borrow one from them until the baby was 5lbs ( Ethan was just over this when I brought him home so I didn't have to). GL"</blockquote>

I'll definitely ask about their borrowing program, but 5lbs is at the very bottom range for my seat and my 40lb son fits in it great so I can't wrap my head around a 5lber fitting in it---in wish I had a little one to test, haha---

DS was 10lbs, so findig a seat small enough was NEER an issue.

if we were closer, id let you use my chicco.....id offer to ship it but that would prob be $$ and id be afraid it would get damaged