NICU Discharge Checklist: Preparing to Bring Your Baby Home Safely

Bringing your baby home from the NICU is a big step. Many families feel relief, gratitude, and excitement, but it’s also normal to feel anxious. After spending so much time in the hospital, adjusting to home life can seem overwhelming.

A good NICU discharge plan helps your baby keep getting the care they need and helps you feel more confident as a parent. Knowing what to ask, what to prepare, and which warning signs to watch for can make this change easier and safer.

Here is a practical checklist to help you get ready to bring your NICU baby home.

Baby’s Medical Status

• What are my baby’s final diagnosis(es)?
• What conditions are resolved and which are ongoing?
• What complications are most likely at home?
• What red flags are specific to my baby?
• What is my baby’s corrected (adjusted) age, and why does it matter?

Medications

• What medications will my baby take at home (name, purpose, dose, schedule, duration)?
• What side effects should I watch for?
• What if a dose is missed or vomited?
• Are these medications temporary or long-term?
• Who do I call with medication questions?

Feeding And Nutrition

• What is the exact feeding plan (breast milk, fortified milk, formula, special formula)?
• How much per feed and how often?
• What is normal spit-up vs. concerning vomiting?
• How do I know my baby is getting enough?
• What weight gain is expected?
• Are there special feeding positions or techniques?
• What are the signs of feeding intolerance or aspiration?
• Who do I call for feeding problems?

Breathing And Apnea Safety

• Are there ongoing breathing issues?
• Has my baby had recent apnea or bradycardia?
• Do we need home oxygen, an apnea monitor, or a pulse oximeter?
• What breathing patterns are normal vs. dangerous?
• When should we call the doctor vs. calling 911?

Equipment And Supplies

• What equipment is going home with us?
• How do we use it properly?
• How do we clean and maintain it?
• How do we troubleshoot alarms or malfunctions?
• Who provides replacements or repairs?
• Who do we call if equipment fails?

Follow-Up Appointments

• When should we see the pediatrician first?
• Does my baby need a neonatology follow-up clinic visit?
• Which specialists are needed (cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, GI, ophthalmology/ROP, surgery, etc.)?
• Does my baby need early intervention services?
• Who schedules these appointments?
• What happens if an appointment is missed?

Development And Therapy

• Is my baby at risk for developmental delays?
• Should we start early intervention now?
• What milestones should we watch for based on corrected age?
• Are there exercises, positioning, or therapies to do at home?

Immunizations And RSV Protection

• Are vaccines up to date?
• Does my baby qualify for RSV protection (Synagis or Beyfortus)?
• Are there additional infection-prevention steps we should take?

Safe Sleep And Home Environment

• How should my baby sleep (position and surface)?
• Is back-sleeping mandatory?
• Is swaddling safe?
• What room temperature is ideal?
• Is tummy time okay, and how often?
• Are pacifiers okay?
• When is it safe for visitors?
• Should we avoid daycare or crowded places?

Jaundice And Bilirubin Monitoring

• What was my baby’s most recent bilirubin level?
• Was it total, direct, or indirect bilirubin?
• Is my baby at risk for rebound jaundice?
• Does my baby need repeat bilirubin checks?
  • When?
  • Where?
• What bilirubin level would be concerning?
• What signs of worsening jaundice should I watch for (yellow skin/eyes spreading, poor feeding, lethargy, high-pitched cry)?
• Has my baby required phototherapy?

Emergency Symptoms And When to Get Help

• What temperature counts as a fever?
• What feeding problems are urgent?
• What color changes are dangerous (blue, gray, pale)?
• What breathing signs are dangerous?
• How many wet diapers are too few?
• What symptoms require:
  • Calling the pediatrician?
  • Going to the ER?
  • Calling 911?

Growth And Monitoring

• How often should we weigh our baby?
• What weekly weight gain is expected?
• What should we do if weight gain slows or stops?

Test Results And Screenings

• Did my baby pass the hearing screen?
• Did my baby pass the heart screen?
• Were head ultrasounds or MRI done?
• Were eye exams (ROP) done?
• Do any tests need repeating?
• Can we have copies of results?

Family Support And Resources

• Who do we call after hours?
• Is there a NICU follow-up nurse or care coordinator?
• Are there parent support groups?
• Is home nursing available if needed?

Documentation And Legal/Medical Records

• Can we have a full discharge summary?
• A written medication list?
• A written feeding plan?
• A follow-up appointment schedule?
• Equipment prescriptions?
• Who is the primary doctor responsible after discharge?

When Medical Concerns Raise Legal Questions

While many NICU stays can’t be avoided, some happen because of preventable problems like delayed treatment, medication mistakes, not enough monitoring, or injuries during birth.

If you’re worried that your child’s NICU stay could have been prevented, talking to an experienced attorney can help you understand your options. Knowing your rights isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about making sure your child’s future needs are protected.

Talk With Ross Feller Casey If You Have Questions

If your child had complications that led to a NICU stay and you’re unsure if medical negligence was involved, the attorneys at Ross Feller Casey can help. We have extensive experience with birth injury and medical malpractice cases, and we want to help your family. We have compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys and medical doctors here to help guide you through the legal process. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Contact Ross Feller Casey today to learn more about your legal options and how we can help protect your child’s future.