Babies who have been in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are often at higher risk of getting an infection than other infants. So you need to be careful where you take the baby and who comes to visit her. You don't need to stay in your house alone for the first months after your baby comes home. But you do need to take special care.

Medical staff may tell you to:

• Limit the number of visitors to your home.
• Limit the number of people who touch your baby.
• Avoid taking your baby to crowded places, such as shopping malls and grocery stores.

If you do have visitors:

• Make sure they wash their hands before touching the baby.
• Do not let adults or children who are sick, have a fever, or have been exposed to an illness near your baby.
• Tell visitors they can't smoke in your house.

By all means, take your babies for walk outside in comfortable weather, and go visit friends and relatives. Just make sure that your baby is going to a home that is smoke-free and illness-free.

September 2007