When your sick or premature baby is ready to go home

If you've had a sick or premature baby in the hospital, going home can be both exciting and stressful. Make sure you have contact details for health professionals, as well as details of follow-up appointments. It's a good idea to ask for and accept help from friends and family.

When your sick or premature baby is ready to go home, you might have mixed emotions. There's a lot to look forward to - even simple things like having the privacy to stay in your pajamas all day if you want to. But many parents also feel nervous about caring for their baby alone for the first time. With planning, preparation, and support from hospital staff, family, and friends, you can feel confident about taking your baby home.

It might help to know that the hospital won't discharge your sick or premature baby until staff are confident that both you and your baby are ready. This usually means that your baby no longer needs the hospital's specialist equipment and medical care. If your baby was premature, this might be when they:

  • are steadily gaining weight
  • can breastfeed or bottle-feed at all feeds
  • have no breathing problems
  • can keep their body temperature steady in an open cot.

This might happen a few weeks before your premature baby's expected birth date. It might take longer if your baby has had surgery or help with breathing.

In the weeks before your baby is ready to come home, the hospital staff will help you take over your baby's care - for example, feeding, nappy changing, dressing, and bathing. If your baby still needs to take medicine or requires other special care, you should learn how to administer the medication and provide special care. It's also recommended to learn about danger signs requiring immediate medical care.

Check with hospital staff (neonatologist) for a plan for follow-up medical appointments. You might see a family doctor or other specialists for follow-up checks. You'll also see a home-visiting nurse or other community health professional who will support you and your family.