Bringing your baby home from the hospital is an exciting time for any parent, but the first few hours and days can be fraught with anxiety if you’re not properly prepared. Whether you’re a first-time mom or you already have little ones at home, each birth is different and every experience varies. The following tips will help serve as a reminder or provide some insight to help relieve your anxiety and make bringing baby home from the hospital an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Note: If you are giving birth during COVID, your hospital will have health protocols in place to protect you, your baby and health workers. Check with your doctor beforehand to make sure you are clear on what you can bring with you to the hospital, and if a spouse or partner is able to accompany you.
What to pack for bringing baby home from the hospital
Your newborn's health screening checklist
Before you’re discharged, take time to ask any questions pertaining to your health or your baby’s health. To set your mind at ease, your doctor and your baby’s doctor will make sure that both you and your newborn are in top health before discharging you both from the hospital. The nursing staff will:
- Check baby’s temperature
- Measure jaundice levels
- Administer vaccines and vitamin K supplement
- Make sure baby is eating well
- Administer a hearing screening
Once your baby comes home
- The best sleep position for a healthy newborn is on their back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Keep an eye out for signs of discomfort like squirming, grunting or furrowed brow. Run through a comfort check to see if baby needs a diaper change, or is trying to go, whether they’re too hot or too cold, or in need of a feeding or burping.
- Know the signs and symptons of jaundice. Keep an eye out for yellowing of the skin or eyes. If your child was treated for jaundice in the hospital, follow the monitoring instructions given.
- Keep baby’s umbilical cord clean and dry. Clean away feces and urine with an alcohol swab at the base of the cord; wait until umbilical cord falls off to give baby their first bath at home.
- If your baby is circumcised, keep dressing from hospital on for 24 hours. Apply Vaseline to the end of the penis at diaper changes. Call your baby’s pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.
