Related topics
NICU Family Support®
Your gift helps provide comfort and support to families with a baby in the NICU.
Donation amount:
Join our efforts
Learn when you can make a difference to moms and babies.
Home after the NICU
- It's normal to feel anxious about bringing your baby home.
- Learn about your baby's condition, medications and care.
- Plan for your baby's ongoing medical care when you are home.
Child care after the NICU
At some point, you may have to go to work outside the home. Deciding when to go and what type of child care is best for the baby can be hard for parents. And parents of NICU graduates have some special concerns.
All babies tend to pick up germs and come down with colds and other common childhood illnesses when they start day care. You may wonder whether day care will be risky for your baby's health.
Talk to your baby's health care provider before you choose a type of child care. If your baby is now healthy, you probably don't have to worry. But if your baby was very premature or had breathing difficulties, he could become quite sick from common illnesses.
The health care provider may recommend that you look into having a child care provider come to your home. If that isn't possible, you may want to find a child care provider who cares for a small group of children in her home.
Make sure the caregiver has a policy about frequent handwashing, especially after changing diapers or handling tissues. She also should never allow sick children to attend child care.
Make sure your baby's immunizations are up to date before he starts child care. And ask his health care provider if he should receive treatment to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
All babies tend to pick up germs and come down with colds and other common childhood illnesses when they start day care. You may wonder whether day care will be risky for your baby's health.
Talk to your baby's health care provider before you choose a type of child care. If your baby is now healthy, you probably don't have to worry. But if your baby was very premature or had breathing difficulties, he could become quite sick from common illnesses.
The health care provider may recommend that you look into having a child care provider come to your home. If that isn't possible, you may want to find a child care provider who cares for a small group of children in her home.
Make sure the caregiver has a policy about frequent handwashing, especially after changing diapers or handling tissues. She also should never allow sick children to attend child care.
Make sure your baby's immunizations are up to date before he starts child care. And ask his health care provider if he should receive treatment to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
See also: Share your story
August 2009
Call your doctor now if your baby...
- Has a temperature above 100.4 F
- Has trouble breathing or is hard to waken
- Has blood in her vomit or stool
- Has yellowish skin or eyes
- Is having a seizure
Have questions?
Featured question:
How do I calculate adjusted age for preemies?
