The baby (and any patient/client) 'needs' a band to id them for giving meds, taking blood, returning from being elsewhere eg. baby minded while mum goes to postnatal physio. I have found many mums say before birth they don't want to be separated, but they seem to change their minds! don't want to sleep close to them! In the 4 hospitals I have worked we only footprint the dead babies, and sometimes the sick premies, as part of making memories. Louise RN Midwife IBCLC -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.