Transfer of preterm infants from incubator to open cot at a lower body weight (1600g) versus a higher body weight (1800g)

One of the key criteria for discharging preterm infants from nurseries is their ability to maintain their temperature once transferred from an incubator to an open cot. This practice varies widely between neonatal units; however it seems that a weight mark of 1800g is preferred, which appears to be based on tradition or the personal experience of clinicians, as the scientific evidence of when and at what weight this should occur is limited. By delaying transition to an open cot on the basis that the infant has not reached a certain weight may result in longer hospitalisation than necessary, thus increasing cost of care and prolonging parental separation resulting in parental anxiety. However, transferring infants too soon may also result in extended hospitalisation and again add to cost of care. This study will determine the effects of transferring preterm infants from incubators to open cots at a lower weight of 1600 grams on the outcomes of temperature stability, weight gain and length of hospital stay.