How to prepare for care at home and supports in the community.
When does baby get go home?
The first question that parents often ask in the NICU is: when does my baby go home?
Going home depends on several factors. Some babies go home within a few days. Other babies are not ready to go home for weeks or months. Your baby’s care team will talk about when your baby is close to going home so you can have plenty of time to prepare for their home arrival.
There are several general rules that can help you find out whether your baby is close to going home:
- Their breathing is stable.
- They are feeding on their own either by breast, bottle or combination of both.
- They are steadily gaining weight.
- They fit their car seat and have passed a car seat challenge.
What you can do to prepare for your baby's discharge
Bringing a baby home from the NICU requires extra care and precautions. There are several activities you can do to prepare yourself for your baby's discharge.
- Attend a parent education class provided by the NICU.
- Review resources specific to your child’s care available in the NICU.
- Learn more about care at home for preterm infants.
- Learn more about the first few weeks at home after discharge from hospital with a NICU baby.
- Attend an Infant CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) class or airway management class, available to you in the NICU before you go home.
- Make sure you have a car seat that fits your baby.
- Immunizations are safe and recommended for preterm babies. Learn more about immunizations for premature infants.
Learn more about bringing baby home from hospital and the first days at home.