Getting the Most from the TurtleTub: Flexible Options for Every Hospital
Swaddle bathing has become a preferred approach in many hospitals, with professional organizations and neonatal experts recognizing swaddle bathing as a best practice for newborn care. Research shows that swaddle immersion bathing can help reduce stress, decrease crying, support temperature regulation, and create a calmer experience for infants compared to traditional bathing methods.
Catapult Products designed the TurtleTub® Swaddle Bathing System specifically to support this evidence-based approach. Its supportive contours, integrated temperature strip, and thoughtful design help caregivers perform swaddle baths safely and comfortably while encouraging parent participation.
One of the advantages of the TurtleTub system is that hospitals can implement it in a way to best support their patients, staff, and family-centered care goals.
TurtleTub Option 1: Single-Patient Use
Many facilities choose to dedicate a TurtleTub to an individual infant throughout the hospital stay. In some cases, the hospital gifts the tub to the family at discharge, enhancing patient satisfaction and allowing parents to continue familiar bathing routines at home.
This approach can be especially meaningful for families experiencing extended hospitalizations or infants who may benefit from additional continuity of care after discharge. It also provides a highly family-centered option that helps reinforce caregiver confidence.
For single-patient use, caregivers should follow the instructions for use, which recommend cleaning the TurtleTub with gentle soap and water and allowing it to dry between baths.
TurtleTub Option 2: Multi-Patient Use
Other hospitals choose to use the TurtleTub with multiple patients. This model allows more infants to experience the benefits of swaddle bathing while maximizing available resources.
The TurtleTub has a validated process for multi-patient use, which is specified in the instructions for use: A new TurtleTub liner must be used for each bath, and the tub should then be disinfected with an approved disinfectant wipe.
Rather than viewing the liner as an accessory, it’s helpful to think of it as an essential component of the complete TurtleTub system when implementing a multi-patient-use model.
Why the TurtleTub Liner Is So Important
Infection prevention is a priority in every neonatal setting. Research shows that hospital bath basins can become contaminated with pathogens, even after cleaning. For that reason, Catapult Products developed a disposable liner system and validated a multi-patient-use process that follows FDA guidance for reusable medical devices.
Facilities may approve multi-patient use of the TurtleTub only when a TurtleTub liner is incorporated into the cleaning and disinfection process. This process complies with the Joint Commission requirements that cleaning and disinfection processes follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
For facilities committed to providing safe, consistent neonatal care, using the liner ensures that the TurtleTub system is used exactly as it was designed and validated.
TurtleTub Liners Are Designed Specifically for the TurtleTub
Unlike generic alternatives, TurtleTub liners are engineered to fit the contours of the tub. This proper fit allows caregivers to use the full bathing volume intended by the design, helping maintain water temperature throughout the bath.
Supports Accurate Temperature Monitoring
The TurtleTub temperature strip has been tested with the TurtleTub liner in place, giving caregivers confidence that water temperatures remain within the intended range for infant bathing.
Toxin-Free Materials
TurtleTub liners contain no latex, BPA, phthalates, PFAS, or other potentially harmful chemicals. They have also been evaluated to medical device standards to help ensure materials do not leach into bath water.
Durable and Convenient
The liners, made from tear-resistant 2-mil high-density polyethylene, are designed for clinical use and are individually packaged for cleanliness and convenience. They are quick to apply, easy to remove, and simplify cleanup after bathing.
The Bottom Line: Choose the Use Model That Is Best for Your NICU or Well-Baby Unit
The TurtleTub system allows hospitals the flexibility to choose the bathing model that best suits their needs. Some facilities prefer a single-patient-use approach and send the tub home with families, while others successfully implement a multi-patient-use program.
By following the intended use model, hospitals can continue providing the developmental, family-centered benefits of swaddle bathing while supporting efficient workflows and infection-control best practices.
For more information about the TurtleTub Swaddle Bathing System or to request an evaluation, call 888-891-1200 or email us to be connected to a local representative.
MED Alliance Group is a medical device distributor that has been meeting the needs of our clinical customers and manufacturing partners since 1998. We specialize in the sales, marketing, importation, logistics and distribution of innovative, high-quality and cost-effective products found in anesthesia and respiratory, blood and transfusion therapy, EMS and emergency room, interventional radiology and cath lab, iv and vascular, NICU/PICU and pharmacy.
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