boarder baby

plural boarder babies

1. An infant kept in hospital because its parents are unable or unfit to take care of it.

   Boarder babies are both a cause and a result of foster care placement shortages.

   1990, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Human Resources, The Enemy Within: Crack-cocaine and America's Families

   1 more example

   Another facet of infant abandonment is boarder babies, which are babies who are medically cleared for discharge but incapable of leaving a hospital facility due to caregiver complications or legality issues […]

   2019, Mary de Chesnay, Barbara Anderson, Caring for the Vulnerable, page 343