Whether you bring your newborn home right from the hospital or   a little later from the neonatal intensive care unit, there are guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics that needs to be followed. Health care professionals need to carefully consider these factors before allowing the newborn to come home.

Guidelines to be followed before newborn can be discharge from the hospital.

• The mother should be healthy enough and ready to care for the baby. It is also important to know if the mother has  support at home
• The baby’s health is also important. She should have had at least two successful feedings whether by bottle or breast.
• It is important that the baby has an appropraite car seat and that parents know how to use it properly.
• The baby should be safe at home. Are there illegal   drugs, alcohol, a history of abuse, neglect or domestic violence in the home? Does any of the parents have a history of mental illness ?
• Does the mother and baby have access to follow up care ? It is also important that the mother  knows a clinic or doctor’s office where she and the baby can go get  care

The health care provider will consider these guidelines before discharging the baby from the hospital. This is to ensure that both mother and baby are safe and well cared for to avoid rehospitalization.  This will also make the transition home as smooth as possible.

You have to know that there may be additional considerations to review before premature babies or babies with medical conditions are discharged from the hospital.