what not to wear-NICU

There have been a few comments about Logan's wardrobe (or lack thereof) in NICU.

So this is a little post to let you know what all the fashion conscious preemies are wearing this season.

For the little guys with tissue paper thin skin and a little bit of jaundice, shades are the most important part of the ensemble. These little soft cotton sunglasses come in three sizes; micro, tiny and preemie. Logan has been sporting the micro size on the days he needs to hit the beach. He was able to ditch the shades for a couple of days but they're back on this morning as he was scheduled for tanning again.

The other indispensible item is his little cotton cap that holds his CPAP in place. These little caps are simply soft cotton tubes that are open on both ends so his breathing aparatus can be secured to his head. After the hat is secured, he gets a little chin strap that wraps around his chin and fastens on the top of his head with velcro. The chin strap reminds him to keep his mouth closed so his airflow is undeterred. It looks a bit like something he'd wear on the football field so he's off to a good, solid start.

We have learned to listen and watch his little bubbler-it is part of the machine that helps him breathe. When he opens his mouth or rips off his chin strap or nose tubes the little bubbler stops bubbling and the alarms go off. It's important he keep his hat on and not tug on his tubes. It's all part of a very complicated, expensive ensemble. The tubes come in white and blue and clash miserably with the bright orange elastics that hold them in place. Apparently, the only colors we pay attention to in NICU are the skin colors: purple (not enough oxygen), yellow (jaundiced) and pink (all good!).

Once he's got his head gear on, he's pretty much dressed for the day. The diaper is optional depending on the condition of his skin. He's only had one day with his "bum to the sun." The rest of the time he has been able to wear the hospital issue "micro" diapers. They are available in plain white and nursery print. Neither is particularly flattering and both are a little big at this point requiring them to be folded down and tucked around; making for a rather bulky looking bum. We've tried to mix it up as best we can just to give him a little variety in his outfits.

Little Logan in his big diaper

ready for a nother day of breathing

Also available for the little fashionistas in NICU are a variety of patches, probes, wrist bands, and leg warmers (they're not really leg warmers but small guaze tube slipped over appendages to keep any number of lines or IV's in place. When something has to be secured indefinitely, there is the hospital tape that they claim is not sticky and really doesn't hurt when it's removed - but seriously, we all know what it feels like to rip off a band aide. They aren't fooling any one, especially Logan who squirms and squeaks and thrashes around every time he needs something changed.

This photo shows some of this season's most up to date accesories. Wires in a variety of colors, patches (white to record respiration rate, i think and gold for heart rate-it actually is a little heart but it has to be cut in half right now to fit), his wrist band with his very own bar code which is scanned many times a day just to make sure he's still himself...and the leg warmer which holds his PICC line in place.

So Logan's fashion choices at this point are quite limited. He is not allowed to wear clothes until he can breathe all day and all night all by himself. Then they will pop the top of his isolette and he'll be out in the world in need of some clothing. Until then it's diapers and caps and wires........

He really is in there!

Once he's out in the room with his lid off we will be excited to dress him in clothes. For any one who wants to buy him clothes, feel confident that anything in the stores is something he will grow in to. I've been looking this week at preemie clothes and even the smallest sizes are still too big for this little man. So have fun. Go shopping and remember the only thing that Logan CAN'T wear in NICU is clothes.