Whether your baby comes home from the hospital right away,
arrives later (perhaps after a stay in the neonatal intensive care
unit), or comes through an adoption agency, the homecoming of your
little one is a major event you've probably often imagined. Of
course, it may or may not turn out to be what you'd expected.
Read on to find out how to be prepared in any situation.
Leaving the Hospital
Moms-to-be sometimes pack clothes for the trip home before even
going to the hospital - or they may wait to see what the weather
brings and have their partner bring clothing for both themselves
and the baby. Plan to bring loose-fitting clothing for yourself
with a drawstring or elastic waste because you most likely
won't yet fit into your pre-pregnancy outfits yet.
Babies are frequently overdressed for the first trip home. In
warm weather, it's practical to dress your baby in a T-shirt
and diaper and wrap him or her in a baby blanket. Hats aren't
necessary, but they can be a cute finishing touch, especially for
the first picture in the hospital. If it's cold, add a snowsuit
and an extra blanket. Chances are much better that you'll bring
home a calm, contented baby if you don't spend a lot of time at
the hospital trying to dress your baby in a complicated outfit that
may require pushing and pulling your baby's arms and legs to
get him or her dressed.
If you haven't already made the arrangements with your baby's
health care provider, make sure to ask when the baby's first
checkup should be scheduled before you leave the hospital.
Depending on the circumstances, some
premature
babies also go home with a special monitor for breathing and heart
rate, and you may be taught infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (
CPR
). But whether your baby is full-term or premature, don't feel
rushed out the door - have your questions answered before leaving
the hospital. And if you find yourself wondering about anything -
from
bathing
to
breastfeeding
to
burping
- ask your nurse, lactation consultant, or your baby's
doctor.
The Car Trip
The most important item for the trip home is a proper child
safety seat (car seat). Every state requires parents to have one
before leaving the hospital because it's one of the best ways
to protect your baby.
Even for a short trip, it's
never
safe for one of you to hold your baby in your arms while the other
drives. Your baby could be pulled from your arms and thrown against
the dashboard by a quick stop.
It's a good idea to purchase, rent, or borrow a car seat
before your baby's born, when you have time to choose
carefully. There are two kinds of car seats for babies: infant-only
seats (which must be replaced when your baby weighs 20 pounds) and
convertible seats that accommodate both infants and older
children.
Infant-only seats
are designed for rear-facing use only and fit infants better than
convertible seats. Infants
must
be in rear-facing car seats until they're 1 year old
and
weigh at least 20 pounds. (If your baby exceeds that weight before
his or her first birthday, you'll need to use a convertible
seat designed for bigger babies.) Some parents of newborns find
that a "travel system," which includes a stroller and an
infant-only car seat that can be attached to the stroller, make it
much smoother to transition babies - especially sleeping ones -
from the car to the stroller.
Convertible seats
face toward the rear until your baby is 20 pounds
and
1 year old, and can be turned to face forward after that. (Some
convertible seats have higher rear-facing weight limits to
accommodate larger babies younger than 1 year).
Never
put a rear-facing infant or convertible seat in the front seat of
your car - always use the rear seat. Passenger-side airbags in the
front seat cabin are hazardous for both rear- and forward-facing
car seats, and most accidents happen at the front passenger area of
the car. When it's cold, strap your baby in snugly first, then
put blankets over the baby.
If you borrow a car seat, make sure that it's not more than
10 years old and was never in a crash (even if it looks OK, it
could be structurally unsound). Avoid seats that are missing parts
or aren't labeled with the manufacture date and model number
(you'll have no way to know about recalls). Also, check the
seat for the manufacturer's recommended "expiration
date." If you have any doubts about the seat's history, or
if it's cracked or shows signs of wear and tear, don't use
it.
Inquire at your prenatal classes, health care provider's
office, hospital, and insurance company about rental or loan
programs for car seats - they're quite common.
When buying a new seat, it's important to remember that
there isn't one type of seat that's safest or best; get one
that fits and can be correctly installed in your car. And higher
price doesn't necessarily indicate a seat's quality - it
may simply mean the seat has added features that you may or may not
want. Also, be sure to register your new seats, so you can be
notified of any problems or recalls.
The most common problem involving car seats is improper
installation (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, the majority of all car seats are installed
incorrectly). In recent years, new LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren) car seats have become standard in the United States,
but a large percentage of these seats are improperly installed too.
Don't trust illustrations or store displays. Follow the
manufacturer's instructions - and hang on to them. Ask your
child's doctor
or nurse about local resources where your car seat can be checked
by someone specifically trained to evaluate car seat installations.
Many hospitals, police and fire stations, and even car dealerships
offer this type of service for free. Make sure that the evaluation
is done by someone trained and experienced.
If you're bringing your baby home from the
intensive care unit
, bring the car seat to the hospital ahead of time, so the staff
can see if it will work for your baby. If special health concerns
rule out a standard restraint, ask your child's doctor to
recommend car seats for children with special needs.
For more information on the proper use of child safety seats,
read our article on
auto safety
.
First-Time Feelings
Don't be surprised if you have a mixture of emotions as you
bring your baby home, especially if this is your first child.
You'll likely be nervous. In fact, you may actually feel
terrified as you realize that you've given up a certain amount
of control over your life.
If your baby wasn't with you much at the hospital, you may
not know what sort of schedule your little bundle of joy will keep.
But you'll know before long - although babies' schedules do
change a lot during those early months. You'll be less stressed
if you don't overschedule yourself and can go with the
flow.
Depending upon your labor and delivery experience, you may feel
physically drained and
sore
. Your hormones may be struggling to catch up, too. Meanwhile,
your partner
may feel a little left out if you're totally engrossed with the
baby.
You also may have other children awaiting the arrival of this
newest family member. Or you may be dealing with a pet who's
wondering what's suddenly drawn everyone's attention.
Frequently, the expectations of new grandparents, competitive
siblings, or friends can also make the homecoming stressful.
Your baby's first extended crying period at home will be
painful. Remember: young babies typically cry for 1 to 5 hours
within a 24-hour period, and you can't always calm them. Crying
usually decreases gradually after the first several weeks. Although
it may seem impossible now, in a few months it will be difficult to
recall your baby's seemingly endless crying episodes.
The Home Front
Introducing your baby to others at home can be challenging. If
you have other children, be sure to spend some quality time with
each of them. Some parents bring home gifts from the new baby for
big brothers and sisters
. At first, you can expect some jealousy, especially if the main
focus of your attention for several years suddenly has new
competition. Encourage
siblings
to "help" you care for this newest family member.
If you have a pet, bring home a blanket with the baby's
scent on it and place it near the pet - even before leaving the
hospital. Then, when you come home, the pet will already be
somewhat familiar with the baby. But remember to never leave pets
alone with newborns.
Family and Friends
It's a good idea to have your partner serve as the
gatekeeper for visitors, and to limit the number of guests at
first. You'll be glad later on if you take some time now to
rest and become comfortable with your new situation. Although
babies typically aren't shy around strangers for the first 3
months or so, they may become overstimulated and tired if there are
too many people around.
If you have voice mail or a telephone answering machine, you
should consider changing your message to give the vital statistics
of your new arrival. You might want to say something like:
"Our newest family member has arrived. Her name is Jill
Michelle; she was born on the first of June, and weighed 6 pounds,
7 ounces. We're all fine and adjusting to our new life. If
you'd like us to call you back when it's convenient, please
leave your name and number."
Don't be shy about accepting visitors slowly. Ask anyone
who's ill to wait until they're feeling well and no longer
contagious before they visit. It's also a good idea to ask
visitors to wash their hands before holding your baby because a
newborn baby's immune system is weak.
When to Call Your Baby's Doctor
Your baby's health care provider expects calls from new
parents on many topics, including breastfeeding and health concerns
(for more on newborn care, visit the
Pregnancy & Newborns
section). They'd rather have you call than worry about
something needlessly. It's important to remember that you are
the best source of information for your child's health care
provider.
If you wonder whether you should call the doctor's office,
do it, especially if you see something unexpected or different that
concerns you. Call if you see any of these signs:
- rectal
temperature
of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (in babies younger than 2
months)
- symptoms of
dehydration
(crying without tears, sunken eyes, a depression in the soft spot
on baby's head, no wet diapers in 6 to 8 hours)
- a soft spot that bulges when your baby's quiet and
upright
- a lethargic or difficult-to-arouse baby
- rapid or labored breathing (call 911 if your baby has
breathing difficulty and begins turning bluish around the lips or
mouth)
- repeated forceful
vomiting
or an inability to keep fluids down
- bloody vomit or stool
- more than eight
diarrhea
stools in 8 hours
If your concern is urgent, call your doctor and take your child
to the emergency room. Remember, with young infants, minor
conditions can quickly become serious.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2007
Originally reviewed by:
Wayne Ho, MD
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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