Transition of the Preterm Infant to an Open Crib

Abstract

One of the most important steps in preparing a preterm infant for discharge is the weaning from a thermoregulated environment to an open crib. This research utilization project tested a research‐based protocol to wean very low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) infants to an open crib. Two hundred seventy infants from 10 hospitals were enrolled in this project. The mean gestational age at birth was 29.3 ± 2.8 weeks. The mean birth weight for the VLBW infants was 1,118.05 ± 269.64 g. The mean weight when the infants were moved to an open crib was 1,598 ± 135.7 g. The mean time for temperature stabilization after the infant was placed in an open crib was 63 ± 41 minutes. This research utilization project has proven to be successful in that standardization of a protocol for weaning preterm infants is possible and preterm infants can be moved to an open crib at a much lower weight than has been shown in earlier clinical trials. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved