In most ways, caring for the child with OI is just like caring for any child. There are, however, a few precautions and tips unique to handling babies with OI that we would like to share with you.

Car Seat and Strollers
You will need a car seat to take your baby home from the hospital. Look for an infant seat that reclines as much as possible, and give careful consideration to how easily the child can be placed into or removed from the seat. You may want to pad the seat with egg crate foam (available from medical supply stores), or one-inch foam (available from fabric stores).

In addition to lining the bottom of the seat, place a layer of foam between the harnesses and the child for extra protection. As with any child, it is important that the child with OI be safely confined in an approved car seat placed in the back seat. For maximum safety, never place an infant or child car seat in the front passenger seat, because airbags can be dangerous, specially for children with OI.

As with your car seat, you will need a stroller that reclines considerably and is wide enough to accommodate casts. Sling or umbrella-type strollers are unsuitable because they lack leg support and do not provide good positioning of the spine and head.

Bathing
Most babies enjoy bath time, and bathing can also be one of your child's favorite activities. Before your child is able to sit unaided, you will probably find it helpful to purchase a molded sponge bathing aid to lay in the bottom of the tub. A popular variety is the kind with the baby shaped cut-out.

When sitting is feasible, there is a helpful aid called a safety bath ring, a circular ring with suction cups that attach to the bathtub floor. It is possible to bathe a baby who is wearing a sling for a fractured arm. Simply leave the sling on during the bath, and replace it with a dry sling after taking the baby out of the tub.

Babies who are wearing a cast must have sponge-baths. Be very careful not to get the cast wet. Washing hair is most easily accomplished by placing the baby on the counter top next to the sink and supporting the baby's head over the sink. You can then spray or pour water to wash the hair.