Bringing Your Preemie Home 

After all the waiting and work, it’s finally time for your little one to join you at home! It’s a day all parents look forward to, but especially a preemie parent, like you. How can you prepare? And what can you expect?

Bringing any baby home can come with some questions, but it’s good to keep certain things in mind when it comes to preemies. The more prepared you are, the easier it may be to transition from hospital to home.

Going home isn’t the same as being home free. You’ll have a lot on your plate, so some planning now may prevent unnecessary challenges later. Here are some helpful guidelines:

• Choose your pediatrician 
  Find a pediatrician who is familiar with premature baby needs. Let your NICU team know who your baby’s pediatrician will be after discharge from the hospital.

• Schedule baby's first checkup 
  Schedule your baby's first pediatrician visit within 2 days after they leave the NICU. If any specialists are needed, make those appointments too. Be sure to take any hospital discharge papers to these appointments.

• Get hands-on practice 
  Ask your NICU team to help you get comfortable feeding and bathing your baby before going home. Practice giving medications and using any special equipment needed.
  

• Learn CPR
  The peace of mind of knowing CPR is important for all parents of preemie or term infants.

• Take good notes 
  Write down all instructions that your healthcare team gives you about your preemie’s feeding schedule, as well as any other specific care items.
  

• Save the pediatrician’s number in your phone contacts 
  Store the number of your baby’s pediatrician in your mobile phone and keep it by your home phones. You can also keep your hospital’s NICU department number handy as a backup option.
  

Providing optimal nourishment for premature babies at home means having an understanding that your preemie has specific nutrition needs throughout the first year. Their body is working hard to catch up in the growth of their heart, lungs, eyes, brain, bones, and immune system. You can help by having a nutrition plan.

Breast milk is the best choice for your premature baby. Your baby's healthcare team may add a "human milk fortifier" to your breast milk that is specially designed for babies born prematurely. It enhances mom’s milk with protein, vitamins, and minerals to help support a preemie’s high nutrition needs for growth and development.

A formula such as Similac^® NeoSure^® is specially made for premature babies. It’s designed to support brain, eyes, muscle, and bone growth, as well as your baby’s immune system. Similac NeoSure has been clinically shown to promote catch-up growth through your preemie’s first year of life.¹

Learn more about how to make it part of your preemie’s nutrition plan.

You may also want to sign up for our MySimilac^® Rewards program for exclusive product savings and support.

While taking your preemie home is exciting for you and your little one, it may take some time for your baby to form a routine—and for you to feel rested and confident in your own abilities. That’s to be expected! It’s a learning experience.

To help your preemie’s transition to home life, start and stay on a happy and healthy track. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:  

• Bathing your baby
  To help protect your little one’s tender skin from excessive dryness, they’ll only need baths 2 or 3 times a week during their first year. Keep the bathing area warm and free of drafts. Use smooth, soothing motions when washing, and swaddle your infant in a soft towel afterward for warmth.

• Crib safety 
  Your little one’s crib should have slats that are no more than 2 3⁄8 inches apart to prevent their head from getting caught. Make sure the mattress is firm and fits snugly to the crib's frame and is covered only with a tight-fitting sheet. Keep soft, bulky items like blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals out of the crib, as they could block your baby's breathing.

• Warm and cozy are the goals
  Preemies don’t have as much body fat as term babies, at first. This can make temperature changes tough. In the home, dress your baby as you would dress yourself and add one light layer given the season and room temp—then add a cute hat while awake! We lose a lot of body heat through our heads, and babies’ heads are larger in relation to their body size than ours.

• Keep the air clean 
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says secondhand smoke is a health risk. This is especially true for premature babies whose lungs are still developing. Help your preemie avoid secondhand smoke at all times.

• Keep germs at arm’s length 
  Remember that your preemie’s immune system may not yet be fully developed when you bring them home, so you may need to be a little more cautious than usual. It’s wise to wait a few weeks before having visitors at home. Consult your pediatrician about when it’s best to invite family and friends to come to see your little one. Once it’s okay to have visitors, make sure they’re not sick and that they wash their hands with soap and warm water before touching or holding your little one.

• Support their immature immune system through nutrition 
  Your preemie’s growth and development starts in the hospital, but your healthy habits can help to continue their growth at home. If you are providing breast milk to your baby, having a healthy, balanced diet and drinking adequate fluids can help with the supply and quality of your milk.

At discharge, your baby will still have specific nutrient needs. Your baby's NICU healthcare professionals may recommend a nutrient-enriched formula like Similac NeoSure, that has increased protein, vitamins, and minerals, compared to term infant formula. NeoSure also has nucleotides, which are building blocks for cells, including immune cells,² to support baby’s developing immune system.

Protecting your little one often comes naturally, but we hope these tips will give you confidence and give your preemie the best possible start to a healthy and happy home life.

References: 1. Carver JD, et al. Pediatrics. 2001;107(4):683-689. 2. Carver J, et al. J Nutr Biochem. 1995;6:58-72.

Sources: 7 tips for premature baby care. Abbott. October 16, 2018. Accessed January 15, 2024. https://www.nutritionnews.abbott/pregnancy-childhood/infant-toddler/caring-for-your-premature-baby-7-tips-for-new-parents/