My little brother was taken home by the wrong couple, even though he was wearing a bracelet. The other parents got home, looked at the bracelet…said “oops” and came back.
Interesting about identical triplets–I always wondered if identical triplets were possible, or if identicals only came in powers of 2.
Both times I delivered, the bracelets went on immediately, on the kid, me and the hubby. Every time that child came into my arms, they first checked the bracelets. Every time the child was moved from room to room, it was in a bassinet (after the bracelet check). If staff sees a baby being moved ANYWHERE “in arms”, they call security first and ask questions later.
Some bracelets also make a musical chiming noise when held next to the parent’s bracelet- no chime, no baby.
It’s not a pain in the ass at all, considering the possibilities.
Oh, also, they tell you to never give your baby to a hospital staffer unless they have a special “baby floor” ID (it’s pink IIRC).
I brought the newborn thief and Mrs. thief home from the hospital (major Boston hospital) a week ago. Newborn got 2 ankle bracelets within 5 minutes of birth, while in our presence. Mrs. thief and I got matching bracelets as well. Any time the baby was removed from the presence of both parents, a bracelet check was done at time of leaving and return.
When she was discharged, they did a final bracelet check, and removed 1 bracelet from the baby for their records. My wife had to sign that the final check was completed. At that point the baby was placed in my wife’s arms (actually the carseat w/ baby was in her arms) and she was wheeled down to the exit.
I asked one of the nurses during the check if they’d ever had a mixup that was caught by the bracelets - she said no, which I found a little hard to believe. I’d think at some point a nurse would grab baby B. Jones instead of P. Jones from the nursery. I think their system would prevent a mixup on the way home, if not an abduction (I saw a few holes in their security).
Of course, at this same hospital 16 years ago, I went to visit my sister-in-law and newborn nephew with no security whatsoever - I was a hungover, unshaven college student wearing 3 day old clothes, and I managed to find my way right to her room with no one stopping me at all, so I guess things have improved.