Preparing to take your baby home

Going home from the neonatal unit or transitional care may be a time of excitement but may also feel a little daunting. The team on the neonatal unit or transitional care will help you feel ready to take your baby home. For example if your baby is on any medications you will be taught how to give these or if your baby is on oxygen, you will be taught how to change the oxygen tubing.

You will have support once you are home. All babies, no matter where or when they were born, are seen by a health visitor. You may also have support from a neonatal outreach team or children’s community nurse team, depending on your baby’s healthcare needs on going home.

Going home tips from parents

Scroll below to see some useful tips from neonatal parents to help prepare going home with your baby. You can also download this list of tips here

  • "Accept offers of advice and support from neonatal staff leading up to discharge. Such as support for giving your baby their first bath on the neonatal unit, the chance to learn and practice infant basic life support or advice on safe sleep"

  • "Plan your feeding journey before you leave and ensure you have all the feeding equipment needed e.g. Make sure you have a steriliser. If expressing, ensure you have a pump at home. If bottle feeding, try the bottles and teats you will be using at home on the neonatal unit first so that you know your baby will feed."

  • "If your baby is on a prescribed milk, speak with your local pharmacy about it and make sure they can get it in before you need it. Don’t wait until you need it as it can take a few days for them to get it in."

  • "Don’t forget about yourselves – make sure you have food in the freezer which is easy to prepare and have snacks where you can reach them!"

  • "Link in with your health visitor and local children’s centre. Find out where you can go to get support when you get home or which health professionals can come to you to offer support and advice. Particularly if you can’t drive post caesarean section."

  • "Take all the help people offer you."

  • "Don’t be hard on yourself, it may take time to adjust to being home."

  • "Learn to trust your instinct, you will get used to having no monitors."

  • "Use local facilities such as a sling library. Ask about 1 to 1 contact or a home visit if you are concerned about taking your baby into a group setting. (Speak with neonatal staff for advice on this before discharge)."

  • "Look after your own health too. If you are going home in the first few weeks after delivery, then remember mums your body will still be recovering. Ensure you seek help if you are worried about anything and make sure you take some time each day to rest between feeds."

  • "Don’t Google – use the internet wisely"