Going-home day is the day you've been dreaming about since the moment your baby was admitted. But after weeks or months of 24/7 medical support, taking your baby home can feel terrifying. You are ready. Here's how to make sure.
Before Discharge Day
Most NICUs require these milestones before discharge:
- Maintaining temperature in an open crib (no isolette)
- Feeding well — taking full feeds by breast or bottle
- No significant apnea or bradycardia for 5-7 days
- Steady weight gain
- Car seat test — baby must maintain stable vitals in their car seat for 90 minutes
Prepare Your Home
- Temperature — Keep your home between 68-72°F. Preemies can't regulate temperature well yet.
- Clean, not sterile — Regular clean is fine. You don't need to disinfect everything. Wash hands often and ask visitors to do the same.
- Limit visitors — Seriously. Your baby's immune system is immature. Keep visitors to a minimum for the first 2-4 weeks. No one with a cold or cough comes near your baby. Period.
- Safe sleep — Back to sleep, firm mattress, no blankets, no bumpers, no stuffed animals in the crib. This is non-negotiable.
The Emotional Transition
Here's what nobody tells you: going home can actually feel harder than being in the NICU.
In the NICU, there were monitors tracking every breath. Nurses checking vitals every few hours. A button to call for help. At home, it's just you. And that can trigger intense anxiety.
This is completely normal. It doesn't mean you're not ready. It means you're a parent who has been through trauma.
Sandy's Advice: "I tell every family: the first night home is the scariest. You'll check on your baby 47 times. By the third night, you'll check 20 times. By week two, you'll realize you've got this. Trust yourself — you've already proven you can handle the hardest thing."
Follow-Up Care
- Pediatrician visit within 48 hours of discharge
- Eye exams if your baby was born before 30 weeks
- Hearing screening if not completed in the NICU
- Early intervention services — ask about these. They're usually free and can make a huge difference in development.
- RSV prevention — Ask about Palivizumab (Synagis) injections during RSV season. Preemies are high-risk.
Give Yourself Grace
You're not just learning to be a parent. You're recovering from a traumatic experience while learning to be a parent. That's exponentially harder. Be kind to yourself. Accept help. And remember: every day home is another tiny victory.