Digital Footprints: New Device Records Babies’ Unique Feet

V1 Staff |

Just like fingerprints, a baby’s footprints are unique. Now there’s a new way to capture the shapes on those tiny toesies – not with ink and paper, but with digital technology. Mayo Clinic Health System recently installed a new infant safety system at its birth centers in Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Barron. The system allows the hospitals to capture high-resolution newborn footprints that can be used for precise identification in situations such as an abduction or a lost baby. The footprint scans can be stored in babies’ electronic health records, and they can be used to identify them throughout their lifetimes.

Nurse scans a baby's foot
Nurse scans a baby's foot

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommended the system in its most recent infant security guidelines. Each new mom receives a certificate of her newborn’s footprint during her stay. She also can download a digital copy of the footprint and create customized certificates from home. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this infant safety system for new mothers,” says Patty Bosse, a Mayo Clinic Health System nurse administrator. “This will enhance the safety of newborns and provide a treasured keepsake to mark the momentous occasion of a baby’s birth.”