How to Choose the Right Baby Incubator for Your Hospital

Premature newborns have a higher risk in life due to the immaturity of organ systems and low birth weight.

Besides that, their skin is thin as a result of the limited body fat and cannot act as an effective barrier. The bones of a tiny premature newborn are also not fully developed and are very fragile.

Therefore, the premature newborn needs intensive care. Usually, they are placed in incubators, and their vital signals are monitored continuously.

This post discusses what a baby incubator is, its functions, components, what to look for when buying one, and much more.

What is a Baby incubator?

An incubator is an enclosed bed for a pre-term baby that is designed to provide a safe, controlled space for infants to live while their vital organs develop.

It provides an environment that can be adjusted to provide the ideal temperature as well as the perfect amount of oxygen, humidity, and light which is necessary for the infant's survival and growth. Incubators can also help prevent a baby's skin from cracking or breaking due to dehydration by maintaining the proper level of humidity.

It also offers protection from allergens, germs, excessive noises, and light levels that might cause harm.

Other names for a baby incubator include Infant Incubator, Premature Baby Incubator, Neonatal Incubator, NICU Incubator, Newborn Incubator.

What Is The Difference Between Baby Incubator And Radiant Warmer?

Although baby incubators and infant radiant warmers are similar in looks, they work differently.

On the one hand, incubators are controlled enclosures that attempt to replicate, as closely as feasible, a mother's womb by adjusting temperature, humidity, airflow, sound reduction, and in many cases, providing an oxygen-controlled environment.

Incubators are primarily used for babies who are delivered preterm or for babies who cannot be exposed to constant external unregulated temperature.

Radiant warmers on the other hand are open access heating boxes that are used for regulating the temperature of the infants until they can achieve self-thermoregulation.

Why Would a Baby Need to be in an Incubator?

There are many reasons why a baby may need to be inside an incubator. These can include:

Premature Birth

Prematurely developed infants may require extra time to grow their lungs and other vital organs. Their eyes and eardrums might be severely sensitive to light and sound, making regular illumination and noise a danger.

Additionally, babies who were born before they were ready will not have had the opportunity to build fat just beneath the skin, necessitating assistance in keeping themselves warm.

Low Birth Weight

Babies who weigh less than five pounds at birth are often placed in incubators, as they are more susceptible to infection and have difficulty regulating their own body temperature.

Newborns, particularly those born prematurely, can have trouble regulating their body temperature. This, and the fact that they don't have much fat, makes them prone to hypothermia.

Breathing Issues

Some babies, on occasion, may have fluid or meconium in their lungs. This might cause infections and failure to breathe properly. Newborns' lungs might be immature and not completely developed, which necessitates constant monitoring and extra oxygen.

Infection

A baby's incubator can help prevent germs and secondary infection while he or she recuperates from an illness. When your kid requires several IVs for medication, fluids, and other factors, an incubator provides a secure environment in which to check vital signs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Some incubators come with extra lights to help reduce jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes in newborns. Jaundice is typical, and it occurs when infants are born with a lot of bilirubin, a yellow pigment that is produced during normal red blood cell breakdown.

Recovering From Surgery

After surgery for a post-birth complication, a newborn will need to be observed and kept in a controlled, safe setting. An incubator is ideal for this.

Long or Traumatic Delivery

If a newborn baby has suffered trauma during delivery, he or she may require continuous monitoring and specialist help. An incubator can be used to provide a safe womb-like environment in which the trauma may be healed.

Components of a Baby Incubator

A baby incubator consists of the following

• Transparent hood: This is a transparent, acrylic barrier that keeps the infant away from harmful germs while also shielding it from the outside environment.
• Control System: These monitors are used to regulate things like temperature and oxygen levels so that the baby can stay comfortable and get better.
• Infant bed: This is where the baby will sleep and be placed inside the incubator. It should be comfortable and firm.
• Water container: This is used for increasing humidity.
• Accessories such as I.V.poles, Mattress Drawers, Castors, Tray, Oxygen Inlet, etc.

Types of Baby Incubator

There are five common types of hospital incubators most used in the NICU, for the care of a premature or sick newborn baby. These are:

Closed Box Incubator

The closed box monitor is equipped with a clean air filtration system that reduces the chance of airborne illness and moisture loss from the air.     

Double-Walled Incubator

A double-walled incubator has two walls, as the name implies. The dual walls are there to prevent moisture and heat loss from the air

Servo-Control Incubator

Servo-control incubators come with automatic settings to control temperature and humidity levels in the incubator.    

Open-Box Incubator

The name "open-box incubators" is also used to refer to Armstrong incubators. This newborn baby incubator is exposed to the air, thereby providing easy access to the baby.

Portable Incubator

Portable incubators, also known as transport incubators, are incubators that may be used to transfer or move a newborn baby from one facility to another

Baby Incubator Applications

Incubators are used for the care and treatment of premature babies. They are designed to provide a stable, protective environment whilst facilitating patient monitoring (e.g. temperature, oxygen supply) and treatment

It also protects the infant from infection, allergens, and excessive noise or light levels that can harm. Incubators can also be used to maintain air humidity and even include specific lighting to treat neonatal jaundice, which is common in newborns.

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing The Right Baby Incubator

When purchasing a baby incubator, it is crucial to consider the following.

Functions

When buying a baby incubator, it is essential to consider the functions it performs other than the ones mentioned above.

One of the most important health indicators of a premature newborn is body weight. Consequently, the bodyweight of premature newborns should frequently be monitored. This explains why some incubators incorporate a baby weighing system into their make-up.

So far, various bodyweight monitoring systems have developed. Some of them work using fiber-optic loops, pressure sensors, weight sensors, force sensors, or structured light sensors.

As part of the care regime, X-ray images are often required for optimal treatment and anyone patient may have several examinations. However, neonates are by definition fragile and any undue disturbance and movement should be minimized.

The traditional method of examination involves placing an image receptor (i.e. film cassette or computed radiography (CR) imaging plate) directly beneath the infant.

However, in a bid to avoid undue patient disruption, many modern state-of-the-art neonatal incubators provide an X-ray imaging facility.

This may take the form of a slot under the mattress support into which one slides the imaging plate or, as in the latest incubator models, a dedicated X-ray imaging plate tray incorporated into the mattress support structure.

It would also be optimal for the baby incubator to have phototherapy control.

Phototherapy is a treatment that uses bili light to treat newborn jaundice by making it easier for a baby's liver to break down and remove the bilirubin from the baby's blood.

The baby's temperature will be checked during phototherapy to ensure that they are not becoming too hot, and for indications of dehydration.

Every 4 to 6 hours after phototherapy has begun, the bilirubin levels will be checked to see whether therapy is affecting them.

When the levels of bilirubin fall to a safe level, phototherapy will be discontinued.

Phototherapy is highly successful in treating newborn jaundice and has very few negative side effects.

Accessories

When buying a baby incubator, it is of great necessity to confirm whether the purchase will give you access to accessories such as skin temperature probe, air temperature probe oxygen sensor, IV pole, storage drawer, accessory tray, weighing scale, and X-ray trays.

You would also need to know whether you would have access to replacement parts such as Temperature Probes covers, Replacement Air Filters, Replacement Cuffs, and Sleeves for air shields, Replacement Mattresses, and Covers, suction bottles, etc.

If these accessories and replacements parts are not attached to the purchase, then you might want to consider what the cost for getting them is, as well as their availability in your location.

Warranty

Thermostat failure, design defects, electric shock hazards, and inefficient oxygen control systems are the most common malfunctions associated with baby incubators.

When purchasing a baby incubator, be sure to read or ask about the warranty. Many baby incubators come with a standard warranty from the manufacturer, but it is important to find out what is covered under the warranty and for how long it is valid.

For instance, while some warranties would promise to repair any damaged part of the incubator, they would not bear the cost of replacement.

It is also helpful to check whether an extended warranty is offered by the supplier and the terms it covers.

Generally, it's best to go for warranties that promise to repair or replace defective parts within a reasonable time after purchase.

Pricing

Incubators found in a newborn intensive care unit can cost between $1,500 and $35,000.

There are a few factors that can affect the price of baby incubators. These factors can include the features of the incubator, the brand, the supplier, and the warranty.

In general, more features and accessories will increase the cost of an incubator. Well-known brands tend to be more expensive than lesser-known brands. Suppliers may also charge more for baby incubators that come with a warranty.

Extended warranties may also cost more. When considering the price of a baby incubator, be sure to compare the features and benefits of each model to find the best value for your hospital.

Baby Incubator Price guide

The biggest baby incubators brands include GE, SS.Technomed, Embrace, Draeger, Hill Rom, and Atom Medical.

This section considers the price of some baby incubators to help you pick which is best for you based on monetary factors.

• The S.S. Technomed Baby Incubator INC- TRP. This costs about 3,400 USD.
• The HILL-ROM C2000 Isolette Infant Incubator. A used model of this would cost around 1000 USD.
• The AG-IIR001B Medical NICU Obstetrics Infant Incubator. This incubator can be gotten for a little below 2,500.
• The DRAEGER Isolette C2000 Infant Incubator For Sale. A used model of this is likely to cost around 1000 USD.
• The NBDW-YP-2008 Infant Incubator. This costs around 10,000 USD.
• The GE Giraffe OmniBed Infant Incubator of which a used model would cost about 9,000 USD.
• The AG-IIR001C Medical NICU Infant Incubator. This costs close to 3,500 USD.

Where To Buy Baby Incubators In Bulk With Wholesale Pricing

You can buy baby incubators in bulk with wholesale pricing at Medwish.com.

Medwish.com is a supplier of premium quality NICU incubators, radiant warmers, and other medical devices to hospitals and clinics.

You can reach us from anywhere in the world to get access to high-grade medical supplies and be rest assured of quality service and prompt delivery.

Wholesale Price Advantage on Medwish.com

You would be able to save money when you buy baby incubators from Medwish.com without compromising on safety and quality.

You can also be assured of hitch-free services and shipping as Medwish.com collaborates with key players in several industries in order to ensure that customers have a quality purchase and delivery experience.

Medwish.com also offers product financing and order financing options to help secure financial collaborations and help you get the best baby incubators with ease.

Final Thoughts

When you're looking for the best way to care for premature or ill newborns, nothing is more important than choosing the right baby incubator.

That's why we've put together this buying guide - to help you make the most informed decision possible when it comes to choosing a baby incubator.

You can also reach out to us to provide more guidance should you wish to purchase a baby incubator here.