Going home from the Neonatal Unit

Bringing your baby home is a very special step in your journey. It’s a time of excitement, but it can also feel emotional or a bit overwhelming. That’s completely normal.

This page explains what to expect as you prepare to go home, what support is available, and some tips from other parents who’ve been there too.

Jump to:

When will my baby be able to go home?

Preparing to go home

Getting home

Once you’re home

Tips from parents

When will my baby be able to go home?

Every baby is different. There’s no set time, weight or age when babies are ready to go home.  

Your baby’s progress will be carefully followed by the team, and they’ll guide you as the time gets closer.

You’ll have planning meetings with staff to talk through discharge and how to prepare.

You’ll be supported to learn and practice the skills to care for your baby at home – like feeding, giving medicines, and keeping your baby safe and comfortable.

How We Know Your Baby Is Ready to Go Home

Before going home, you and your baby’s team will make sure that:

They’re stable and growing well – keeping a normal body temperature in an open cot, showing steady growth, and no recent concerns with breathing or infection.

They can breathe on their own – either in room air or with a clear plan for oxygen at home.

They feed well – by breast or bottle, at regular times, and for at least 48–72 hours before going home. This may include top ups by nasogastric tube.

You feel confident in your baby’s care – including feeding, giving any medicines, and recognising when your baby may need help.

You feel supported – emotionally and practically. The team will talk with you about any worries before discharge.

Preparing to go home

Preparation starts from the day your baby arrives on the unit. As time goes on, you’ll take on more of your baby’s care, with gentle support from staff.

It’s completely normal to feel a mix of emotions when thinking about taking your baby home - proud, relieved, nervous, or unsure. You’re not alone in that - many parents feel the same way.

  • When your baby is nearly ready to go home, you may be offered a chance to “room in” – staying overnight with your baby on the neonatal or transitional care unit. This helps you care for your baby independently, while still knowing help is nearby. You can do this for one or more nights, depending on what feels right for you and your baby.

  • The staff will support you to make sure feeding is established before you go home.

    • Some babies may go home still having top-ups through a feeding tube while they learn to fully breast or bottle feed. You’ll be taught how to manage this, and community nurses will visit to support you.

    • If you’re bottle-feeding, staff will help you learn how to make and store feeds safely. You will need to ensure you have a clear area for making  up feeds and sterilising equipment at home.  

    • If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll be signposted to local feeding support once home.

    Remember: choosing to bottle feed will not get your baby home sooner. The most important thing is that feeding works for your baby and for you.

  • You’ll have a discharge planning discussion with your baby’s team – either by your baby’s cot or at a meeting. This is your time to ask questions and understand what happens next.

  • If your baby needs medicines, oxygen, or special equipment, staff will teach you how to use these safely and confidently.

    You’ll be shown how to give each medicine, store it correctly, and request repeat prescriptions.

    If your baby is going home on oxygen, you’ll meet a nurse who’ll talk through home safety and visit before discharge.

    In some circumstances for instance a baby going home on oxygen, open access to children’s ward/assessment unit will be arranged and you will be given this information and a chance to visit the ward before discharge.  

Before You Go Home

  • Register your baby with your GP.

  • Bring your baby’s red book so staff can update it.

  • Prepare your baby’s sleep area – a clear, flat cot or Moses basket in your room. See The Lullaby Trust for safe sleep advice.

  • Check your car seat fits your baby and plan rest breaks on long journeys.  

  • Ask about first aid or basic life support sessions on the unit.

  • Keep a note of useful contact numbers – GP, health visitor, community nurse, and any hospital contacts.

  • Get to know the ICON website for advice on how to cope with a crying baby

Getting home

It’s a good idea to plan your journey before the leaving the unit, especially if you live far from the hospital.

If travelling by car, keep journeys short where possible and stop every 30 minutes to take your baby out of the car seat for a break.

Staff can check your baby’s position in the seat and give advice, though they can’t strap your baby in for you.

Once you’re home

Coming home can bring a mix of relief, joy, and new worries. Give yourself time to adjust, there’s no rush to get everything perfect.

  • Your Health Visitor will get in touch once you’re home. They support families from birth until school age.

    If your baby is under 28 days old, your community midwife may also visit.

    Some babies are followed by a neonatal outreach or community nurse, especially if they still need oxygen or tube feeds. You’ll meet them before you go home.

  • Feeding can take time to settle. You can contact your Health Visitor or local children’s centre for advice, or use the National Breastfeeding Helpline (0300 100 0212) for support at any time.

    If your baby is going home with a feeding tube you will be supported for as long as they need it.  

  • Going home after a hospital stay can be emotional and some parents can feel anxious or low.

    You’re not alone and support is available. You can talk to your Health Visitor, GP, or charities like Bliss, Samaritans (116 123) or Mind. You can find information on local and national support organisations on our support pages.  

  • Your baby’s immune system is still developing. You might want a few quiet days to settle in before having visitors.

    It’s okay to ask people not to visit if they’re unwell, or to wash their hands before touching your baby. Don’t feel pressured to attend baby groups or public places until you feel ready.

    Bliss shares some useful information on helping your baby avoid infections.

  • Trust your instincts – you know your baby best.


    If you’re worried, contact your GP, NHS 111, or your community nurse.


    If your baby is readmitted, they’ll usually go to a children’s ward, not back to the neonatal unit.

    You can also use the Baby Check app from The Lullaby Trust to help decide when to seek help.

  • People may want to help and it’s okay to let them!

    You might ask for help with meals, shopping, or housework rather than holding the baby.

    If you have twins or triplets, Twins Trust offers practical and emotional support.

Useful Links

Tips from parents

Scroll below to see some useful tips from neonatal parents to help prepare going home with your baby. You can also download this list of tips here

  • "Look after your own health too. If you are going home in the first few weeks after delivery, then remember mums your body will still be recovering. Ensure you seek help if you are worried about anything and make sure you take some time each day to rest between feeds."

  • "Accept offers of advice and support from neonatal staff leading up to discharge. Such as support for giving your baby their first bath on the neonatal unit, the chance to learn and practice infant basic life support or advice on safe sleep"

  • "Plan your feeding journey before you leave and ensure you have all the feeding equipment needed e.g. Make sure you have a steriliser. If expressing, ensure you have a pump at home. If bottle feeding, try the bottles and teats you will be using at home on the neonatal unit first so that you know your baby will feed."

  • "If your baby is on a prescribed milk, speak with your local pharmacy about it and make sure they can get it in before you need it. Don’t wait until you need it as it can take a few days for them to get it in."

  • "Don’t forget about yourselves – make sure you have food in the freezer which is easy to prepare and have snacks where you can reach them!"

  • "Link in with your health visitor and local children’s centre. Find out where you can go to get support when you get home or which health professionals can come to you to offer support and advice. Particularly if you can’t drive post caesarean section."

  • "Take all the help people offer you."

  • "Don’t be hard on yourself, it may take time to adjust to being home."

  • "Learn to trust your instinct, you will get used to having no monitors."

  • "Use local facilities such as a sling library. Ask about 1 to 1 contact or a home visit if you are concerned about taking your baby into a group setting. (Speak with neonatal staff for advice on this before discharge)."

  • "Don’t Google – use the internet wisely"

Final thought…

You’ve already come so far. Going home is another big step — and you don’t have to do it alone.


Reach out when you need to, celebrate each little milestone, and know that it’s okay to take things one day at a time.