Ultimate NICU Discharge Checklist for a Smooth Transition Home
After watching your baby make incredible progress, the day has finally come for them to transition home.
Congratulations!
Before you get caught up in the swift chaos of NICU discharge, I encourage you to take a moment to celebrate. This is what you and your child have been working for!
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably feeling an intense mix of emotions–excitement, fear, relief, gratitude, apprehension, and more. I want you to know that this is normal. It is perfectly okay to feel one emotion in one moment and a completely different one in the next.
To make this transition easier for you, I’ve compiled a checklist full of items for you to complete before you bring your baby home. These are tasks I completed on my own NICU journey, as well as what I recommend to other moms as a preemie parent coach.
Please keep in mind that everyone’s child is different, so some of these tools and tips may not apply. For your convenience, I’m breaking this NICU discharge checklist into three sections: what to get from the doctor, what to do on your own, and helpful products to make the transition home a little more seamless.
NICU Discharge Checklist Part One: What to Get From the Doctor
While the doctors and nurses are doing their best to set you up for success, it's important to take an active role in ensuring you get what you need. Here are a few essentials to ask for before stepping out of those hospital doors.
Discharge Instructions
Request a comprehensive written report and verbal instructions from the medical team. This should include details about any medications as well as information about follow-up appointments with specialists or doctors who have seen your child in the NICU.
Contact Information
Ask for a list of important contacts, including how to contact the NICU, a pediatrician the NICU recommends, and emergency phone numbers.
Information About Developmental Support
You’ll want to know:
Where to go for developmental support
The local early intervention phone number
How to track your baby’s developmental needs, including age-appropriate toys and milestones
A Pediatrician They Recommend
Your doctor should be able to connect you with a highly-rated pediatrician who has experience with premature babies. If the practice they recommend is not accepting new patients, you can ask the doctors to call on your behalf to fit you in.
NICU Discharge Checklist Part Two: Preemie Parent To-Do List
After obtaining the essentials from your doctor, there are a few steps you can take to ensure peace of mind as you settle in at home.
Seek Emotional Support
This is arguably the most important item on the checklist. If you don’t do anything else, please, please, please, make sure you find some kind of support group, counselor, or community of preemie moms to lean on during this tumultuous time. Depending on your needs, you can also invest in a parent mentor like FLRRiSH to assist with emotional and practical real-life support.
Come up With Your Own Emergency Plan
Before bringing your baby home, be sure to complete infant CPR training, learn how to administer medications, understand how to change an NG tube or G tube if necessary, and locate the nearest emergency room to your home.
Prepare Your Home
Create a calm, loving, and warm environment for your child–whatever that means to you! I always recommend keeping noises to a minimum (although this is easier said than done, coming from someone who lives in NYC) and avoiding any sudden changes in lighting. This will allow your child to feel comfortable, safe, and secure in their new home.
Another part of preparing your home is temperature control and safe hygiene. Dress your child in warm layers to help them regulate their body temperature, and make sure any person who comes in contact with your child washes their hands thoroughly. Keep visitors to a minimum and avoid taking your baby out in public places unless it’s necessary (i.e. doctors appointments, etc). Lastly, keep your home clean by disinfecting common areas often!
Follow a Routine
Studies show that preemies benefit greatly from a consistent routine or schedule. Try to be as regular as possible with feeding, sleeping, and playtime. This consistency provides your child with a greater sense of security and helps you feel more in control as a parent. Visual cues, such as dimming the lights to signal the start of the bedtime routine, can be very helpful in reinforcing this routine.
NICU Discharge Checklist Part Three: Helpful Tools for Preemie Care
No NICU discharge checklist would be complete without highlighting some of the best tools available for preemie care! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the thousands of products on the market, so hopefully this list can help you narrow down what you need.
Products I Love for Preemie Parents:
The Halo Bassinet: My favorite bedside sleeper for new parents.
The NoseFrida Snotsucker: A hygienic, non-invasive tool to help with your baby’s nasal congestion.
Dr. Brown’s Vented Bottles: Designed to reduce colic, gas, spit-up, and burping during feeding.
Preemie-Size Number One Nipples: Perfectly sized for preemies to ensure proper feeding.
Breast Pump: I recommend one similar to what you used in the hospital; this can usually be rented and is often covered by insurance.
Lovevery Play Kits: A monthly subscription to Lovevery provides developmental support with age-appropriate toys as your child grows. (Please note this is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase.)
NYSSA Fourthwear Bralette: Includes chest pockets for ice and heat packs to provide comfort and support. (Also an affiliate link.)
Tiny Steps by BEB Organic: The leading organic skincare brand for NICU babies powered by Dandelion Medical. I love how gentle and soothing their products are and a portion of proceeds go right back to the NICU.
Just like in the NICU, breaking down this discharge checklist into small, manageable steps will make the process much easier. I recommend checking off each task one at a time until you've completed the entire list. You can also print this page and hang it somewhere visible, like on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror, so you don’t forget anything!
While this list is pretty thorough, you may need to take additional steps to confidently embark on this next chapter of your family’s life. If you’re seeking more personalized guidance in your journey as a preemie parent, I’m here to help. My one-on-one coaching program supports parents in building confidence, navigating the healthcare system, processing their emotions, reducing stress, and becoming powerful advocates for their children.
To learn more, book a free call with me here.