What do buy a Preemie ??

Hello ! I need to hijack here for your advice -
Very good friends just had their baby boy 2 months early. - He is doing well, but will be in the hospital for awhile.

What can I bring when visiting them in the hospital ??

Normally I'd buy an outfit and books .......but he's only 4 lbs and she's not going to get to dress him up yet ....... -

is there something better I could get for them ?? TIA !!!

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

You could buy him a regular outfit for later. I know so many people that get more 0-3 and the smaller sized clothes than their kids can ever wear. Just a suggestion.

Oh, and if they are back and forth to and from the hospital I'd get gift cards to Starbucks or a local restaurant for mom and dad. My DD was in the hospital for her first week and we spent a lot of time (45 minutes to one hour each way) traveling back and forth.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

They do sell preemie clothes at Babies RUs, Buy Buy Baby, and even Old Navy and BabyGap. The clothes aren't fancy, just onesies, sleepers, etc. My DS was a preemie and all the 0-3 outfits I had originally registered for were actually too big for him. So DH and I had to run out and get all preemie things.

So the preemie clothes definitely come in very handy. A few of my friends got me some preemie onesies, hats, etc. and I was so appreciative.

So I'd say preemie onesies, sleepers, booties, and hats are very, very useful. Maybe some 0-3 sized things as well.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

Thanks -

I already bought him some really cute "preemie sized" clothes, but I was reluctant to give them to her while he's still in the hosptal b/c I didn't know if it would upset her that she couldn't bring him home and dress him up yet ..... -

Do you think that's not a big deal and I'm being overly sensitive ??
I have a very thick skin and she is VERY hypersensitive by nature, so I always tend to over think things concerning her b/c she gets upset easily - - .......

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

Honestly

Our son was almost 2 month pre-mature and we had Zero clothes for him. I think a preemie outfit or 2 would be greatly appreciated by your friend. I do not think she would get upset at all if you brought them to the hospital.

Message edited 12/7/2007 1:50:59 PM.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

My son was premature and we had was in the hospital for awhile. We were so grateful for the preemie outfits - and preemie socks/hats/mittens that people gave us. It was nice not to have to worry about that stuff when he did come home.

Also, the book Preemies: the essential guide for parents of premature babies was a sanity saver for me.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

I would go ahead and give them the preemie clothes. DD was a month early and all of her clothes that everyone bought were huge. I remember going out and buying a ton of preemie stuff.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

Thanks for all of your responses. -
I will give her the wardrobe I bought for him when I see her tomorrow. - (I got a tad bit out of control in the store !!)

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

Preemie outfits are cute, but IMO a completel waste of money. If the baby is 4 lbs., he will only wear the outfits for a few weeks.

our dd was 7 weeks early and we barely got any use out of the preemie clothes.

i agree with the pp about the gc to starbucks or a restauant. we spend so much $$ on dinner and lunches out from going back and forth to the hospital.


what hospital is he in? we were in winthrop and they encouraged parents to bring in outfits for the babies.

Message edited 12/7/2007 3:05:07 PM.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

..but when they have nothing that fits the baby, preemie clothes are necessity. Not to mention they are cute to hold onto. I put Emma's on her stuffed animals



I agree that preemie clothes are an absolute necessity. My DS was 4lbs 12 oz when he was born and 4lbs 3 oz a week later when he came home. He required a lot of clothing changes in a day b/c no diapers really fit his skinny body right. He spit up a lot, too. We needed lots of clothes and we could not just make do with bigger clothes because they were hanging off to such a great extent. For a while, he could not even wear newborn sizes, which are smaller than the 0-3 sizes. What made it worse was that I had a C-section and could not just run out and get clothes for him. As for babies still in the hospital, some NICU babies are allowed to wear their own clothes.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

my dd was born at 4 14 and went down to 4 8 or 4 9, the preemie stuff only fit her for a few weeks tops. we got more use out of the newborn stuff.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

I am on the fence about clothing-DD was 3lb 15 oz when born at 7.5 weeks early when she left the hospital she was 5lbs 4oz and that was only 3 weeks later. the preemie clothes only fit for a few weeks because she gained 2lbs in 1 month and has been gaining 2lbs per month avg. So i think some preemie stuff is great but dont go overboard.

Books are good too but if she is really sensitive they can also be her worst nightmare since each situation is different.

I am a fan of the giftcards for food etc..also something alot of people dont htik about is simply volunteering time to help set up the nursery etc with toys, stroller, swing etc-these are things a preemie needs but parents dont have the time to assemble while visitng the hospital.

Re: What do buy a Preemie ??

DD wasn't a preemie- but was a few weeks early- and SOOO much smaller than we had thought she was going to be. I had no clothes for her- so I'm sure that clothes would be much apprecaited by your friends!