Most people realize that having a new baby comes with a lot of new responsibilities, but it also requires families to purchase a lot of items for the child as well. However, what many parents don’t realize is that there is special “preemie gear” that is needed for premature babies. These items are specially made to help parents with the challenges of caring for a preemie. Below you find some examples of a few pieces of preemie gear you may want to purchase if your little one arrives earlier than expected.
Pocket Shirt
For children that are born prematurely, being In close contact with a parent is extremely helpful in providing comfort and supporting their health. One unique product for achieving this sort of closeness on a consistent and regular basis is the Pocket by NuRoo. While it may just look like a shirt, it is designed to allow you hands-free skin to skin time with your baby which can free you up to take care of other necessities.
Swaddling
One common mistake that parents make with newborns is trying to swaddle them with blankets that are too small for their size. However, when it comes to preemie gear, the opposite problem is often true. The standard swaddles you can buy are typically too large for use with a premature baby. Fortunately, products like the SwaddleMe from Summer Infant are available in preemie sizing to help you swaddle your baby in a flash.
Bottles
The typical newborn stomach is pretty small, to begin with, but when you are dealing with children born before term, their stomachs may not be entirely developed. They also tend to eat more frequently than their full-term counterparts. Therefore, having the appropriate preemie gear for the task is essential. Most major bottle manufacturers (Dr. Brown’s, Tommee Tippee, etc.) offer their bottles in a preemie sizing with an appropriate flow rate for the nipple.
Monitors
While it may not be an absolute essential, having some monitoring on your child can certainly help you sleep easier at night. One of our favorite monitors is the Owlet. This piece of preemie gear allows you to track your child’s heart rate and oxygen levels. If either metric moves outside the set acceptable level, an alarm goes off to let you know.