Sensory Guidelines
At what gestational age can parents start reading books to their babies?
28 weeks
At what corrected gestational age is cycled lighting recommended?
32 weeks
What gestational age can infants do skin-to-skin care?
ANY (as long as medically stable)
What is care by cues?
Completing an infant's care when they are showing signs of being awake or in distress, not necessarily based on feeding schedule.
Massage therapy is appropriate for infants greater than what gestational age?
37 weeks
At what gestational age is a baby ready for music therapy?
37 weeks
What time should the lights be off in a patients room if when they are on a cycled lighting schedule?
1-3pm and 9pm-7am
During the first 72 hours of life what position should the baby be in for skin-to-skin care?
Side lying with head midline
What are some vital sign changes we can look for to let us know an infant may be ready for a care?
Increased HR, decreased sats, increased respiratory rate, possibly increased BP if they have an arterial line.
What is something we can encourage parents to do during a care or if infant is crying or stressed (while also educating that stroking infant's skin can be noxious or arousing and this is the best alternative to soothe the infant)?
Hand containment
At what gestational age is it appropriate to put a baby in a swing or bouncy seat and what is the maximum time it should be used in a 12hr shift?
37 weeks and 120 minutes
What are the times for Quiet time?
1-3pm and 1-5am
How long after surgery can a baby be held/do skin-to-skin care?
Anytime as long as medically stable (contraindications being a patient that is silo'd, fresh trach, fresh CDH repair - can always check with APN or MD if unsure and discuss in rounds)
What is the maximum amount of time we would want to go between cares on any infant?
Where are the Spanish passports and stickers located?
Passports at B1 and stickers at B2 desk.
What is the maximum length of time we should be playing music for our babies?
30 minutes at a time, up to 6 times per day
turn down lights in patients rooms and hallways, limit noise at the desks, educate parents on quiet time, ask consults to return after quiet time is over if possible, use soft/low lights for cares or procedures that can not be deferred
Demonstrate how you would reposition an intubated cooling patient that was previously supine?
On their side, utilizing cooling blanket straps (make sure it is a full turn not just a "tilt" to prevent pressure injuries
Even in doing cares by cues, how often should you change out an infant's cpap mask and prongs?
every 3 hours
What gestational age should you switch from a heavy isolette cover to a lightweight blanket?
If the parents are talking on Facetime or watching TV on their phones what should you recommend they use to limit noise in the room and overstimulation to the infant?
AirPods or Headphones or closed captioning
If a parent wants to do skin-to-skin care at 2pm what would you tell them?
Skin-to-skin care should never be deferred due to the extreme benefits it can provide to both the infant and the parents. Just continue to keep lights dim or off in the room while they are holding.
Demonstrate how you would position a small baby in a prone position?
(make sure pillow is length wise under head, shoulders and hips and back is rounded - shoulder blades not sticking out, hips flexed with legs bent and tucked under body)
Even with completing cares by cues, how often should you be turning a patient on LTM?
Every 2-3 hours
Explain what an intentional intro/exit to care means and what are the benefits of doing this?
Taking at least 10 seconds at the beginning and end of a care to do hand containment and use a soft voice to gently begin a care. This can help with stability/tolerance of care, alertness during care, and transitioning from sleep to wake and back to sleep easier.