Congratulations on the birth of your baby. The nursing staff at the LIJ Center for New Life wants your stay here to be a safe and pleasurable experience. Therefore, the code alert system for infant security has been installed to protect your baby from abduction and unauthorized removal from the hospital. The following is important information you should know in order to assist in providing the utmost safety for your baby.

As part of our family-centered care, we encourage you to keep your baby with you as much as possible. Take advantage of this time in the hospital to get to know each other. The baby will come to the nursery for special procedures, or at either your doctor's or your request.

After your baby's first bath, a transmitter tag will be placed on the infant's ankle. This tag allows us to monitor the whereabouts of your baby. Please do not tamper with the transmitter bands. Do not approach exit doors with your newborn. This will set off a code alert alarm. When you and your baby are discharged from the hospital, your nurse will deactivate the alarm system so that only you or your authorized designee can exit with the baby.

Fathers or your approved designee are provided with an identical bracelet. They then may go to the nursery to get your baby. This bracelet must remain on throughout the baby's hospital stay. The bracelet will not be accepted as identification if it is cut off. When the staff brings your baby to you, they will ask to read the name and number printed on your ID band to ensure that they match the name and number of your baby's band. If you go to the nursery to get your baby, the same procedure will be followed.

The only personnel who should be taking your baby from your room are LIJ Center for New Life employees with the proper identification. Report any suspicious persons to your nurse immediately. If you are unsure, ring your call bell for assistance.

Feel free to ask questions when your infant is taken from your room. If you are keeping your baby with you throughout the night, the nursing staff will check on you and your baby frequently through the night hours.

The only way babies are transported is in their cribs. Do not walk through the halls with the baby in your arms. Utilize the cribs if you want to take the baby with you for a walk. It is important not to leave the baby unattended in your room. If you leave the room to take a shower, you should return your baby to the nursery.

Visiting will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The number of visitors to your bedside at any given time will be limited to four for safety and security reasons. Please inform your family and friends of these visitation policies. The only children allowed on the unit will be siblings of the newborn. These children will be given either a pink or blue band for the big sister or big brother.

Please remember that safeguarding your baby begins in the hospital and needs to continue at home.