A variety of terms have been developed to classify unwanted infants.
Situation
Term
a neonate or infant in a hospital who can be discharged but who remains in the hospital while awaiting an appropriate placement
boarder baby
a neonate or infant in a hospital who remains in the hospital because there is no appropriate out-of-hospital placement alternative
abandoned infant
a neonate or young infant abandoned in a public place other than a hospital without proper care or supervision
discarded infant
where:
• Infancy covers from birth to 12 months of age.
• A neonate may be up to 4 weeks of age.
Outcome for a boarder baby:
(1) discharge to the natural parents
(2) discharge to other family members
(3) discharge to alternative care
A discarded infant may be left in the care of a person who is not a family member and not legally responsible for the infant.
A discarded infant may be at risk from temperature extremes, wild animals and other hazards. Serious injury is unlikely if the child is recovered quickly.
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