While a trip to the NICU isn’t in anyone’s plans when they think about becoming a mom, it happens. My recent experience with NICU has made me realize that perhaps I can share some tips to help other moms be better prepared.
If you’re dealing with this situation and have a little one in the NICU and want to know what you should bring, then continue reading for some tips on what to pack when you’re heading to be with your newborn in the NICU.
What should I bring to the NICU?
For starters, it’s important that you start being a part of your newborn’s care plan as soon as you’re well enough. Don’t forget to take care of your body as you just gave birth so your health is just as important as this newborn baby in the NICU.
Once you’ve taken the time to get your own health set after giving birth, it’s time to start thinking about what you should bring to the NICU. Here are some packing tips that will help you survive this part of parenting a baby in the NICU.
Writing Paper and Pen
You’ll be given a lot of information about your baby during this time in the NICU. Make sure you bring a pad of paper and a pen to jot down notes that the doctors share during their visits with you. This is important and a crucial step because you may not remember everything the staff tells you during your busy day in the NICU.
Hydration Supplies
Make sure to bring an insulated water cup that allows you to stay hydrated. This is extremely important if you plan to breastfeed your baby. It’s important that you maintain proper hydration levels to be able to produce milk for your NICU baby and keep your health up during this part of parenthood.
Comfy Pillows & Blankets
If you plan on spending long hours in the NICU with your newborn then you’re going to want to feel comfortable. Anything you can do to make the situation more comfortable will help reduce the anxiety you’ll feel while watching your baby in the NICU. A boppy pillow, comfy blanket, and similar items will work to provide something soft to lean against while you’re tending to your NICU baby.
Bathrobe
Consider packing a bathrobe that’s comfortable large so that you can provide your NICU baby with some skin to skin contact without showing the NICU your entire body. A soft bathrobe that’s easily placed over your clothes to ensure you can give your newborn some skin to skin contact will keep things modest and provide your baby the comfort they need during their time in the NICU.
These are just some of my basic tips on what to bring to the NICU. Often times our little one is rushed to the NICU so fast that we don’t have time to pack, so this list may help you provide some ideas to your partner as they head off to help get supplies while you stay with your newborn in the NICU. Regardless of whether you had a heads up that your baby may end up in NICU or not, it’s important to maintain a level of comfortability so that you can keep your mental health strong during this difficult time.
Surekha
February 25, 2020This is going to help so many moms out there who have a baby in the NICU. It’s a very stressful time, and knowing what to bring takes one less worry away.
Denise @In-Home Medical Supplies
February 25, 2020This is a good list of things to bring to the NICU. You put together a great list.
Amber Faust
February 25, 2020I’m a Nicu mom and I love these suggestions. I love the robe suggestion, skin to skin was so important to us!
Roger Willis
February 25, 2020First off, congratulations on the birth of Hezekiah Champ! I know a few people who’ve had to stay in the NICU while their little one gets better and I’m sure this info would have made their stay better.
Tara Pittman
February 25, 2020This is good to know. I almost had my last baby 10 weeks early but they were able to stop the contractions
Jenni
February 25, 2020I cannot imagine what this must be like, I felt totally unprepared when my daughter had to stay overnight in hospital just before she was one. What great ideas.
Amy
February 25, 2020Your son is adorable! Congratulations! I wish I had this list when my daughter was in the NICU. Thank goodness for the family room!
Anne Marie
February 25, 2020Pillows and blankets are essential! I had a to sleep in a chair 2 nights in a row and didn’t have any way to make it more comfortable.
Heather
February 25, 2020I am thankful that we never needed this information. All of my girls were born practially full term.
Monica
February 25, 2020This was such a helpful post for moms out there. The nicu can be so stressful and sudden. This is so great to help those moms out there feel a little more at ease.
Ann
February 25, 2020This is a great post, I have never read anything like this!
I am forwarding this to a friend of mine who is expecting 🙂
Kita Bryant
February 25, 2020What a little cutie! That head of hair is something to admire!
Sherry
February 25, 2020My oldest was in the NICU for 2 weeks after she was born. This is a great list of what to bring. Back then skin on skin contact was really a thing. I really wish it had been.
Toni
February 26, 2020I would like to thank you for this! This would be really helpful for parents in this situation.
Lisa Joy Thompson
February 26, 2020I hate that you had this experience with your little one being in the NICU, but love that you’ve made such a helpful guide for others in these same circumstances. I have a friend whose little one just spent 6 months in the NICU and it’s been such a hard journey.
Ntensibe Edgar Michael
February 26, 2020Aaaahhhhh….I know who to recommend this article to, Angela.
Kara Guppy
February 26, 2020I was in hospital all last week in Spain with my little boy and I was not prepared at all. These are great tips
Janet Robertson-Peverley
February 26, 2020It is so important to look after yourself while baby is in NICU, and it is all too easy to just forget the simple things that will help. Really useless list for anyone finding themselves in this situation.
GiGi Eats
February 26, 2020What an unfortunate and sad situation to be put in but I do love how on top of it nurses and doctors are, so I am insanely thankful for them during this time!
Rhian Westbury
February 26, 2020I think bringing enough things to make you comfortable must be so important as you’re not going to want to leave if you have to be there x
Ruth i
February 26, 2020Thanks for the heads up. The tips will be really helpful for those mothers who are preparing and haven’t had an idea. The important part really is the baby is healthy and as much as the baby’s mother.
michelle twin mum
February 26, 2020I’m so glad my children didn’t have to go to the NICU, it must be a really heart-wrenching time, so it is good to have guidance posts like this. Thanks, Mich x
Terri Steffes
February 26, 2020Baby #2??? Congratulations! I love the name. It is beautiful and unique. The NICU can be intimidating, but with your post, I think new mommas will feel more prepared.
Kacie Morgan
February 26, 2020Oh gosh, I wouldn’t have a clue what to bring. bet this post will be a great help for so many people.
Emman Damian
February 26, 2020This is a great list of things to bring to NICU. Stay strong! Your baby is a fighter!
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
February 26, 2020Being comfortable makes the whole experience so much nicer. I am sharing this list for my new moms out there.
Rebecca Smith
February 26, 2020This is such a helpful post for anyone who may have to head to the NICU. My friend is a NICU nurse and she’s told me before that parents can spend a lot of time there so comfort is essential.
katrina Kroeplin
February 26, 2020that’s a great list. i spent some time up in the NICU with a friends baby, you don’t realize what you need sometimes until you are in the moment.
Stephen
February 26, 2020It’s easy to forgot how busy your mind is when expecting and how much forward planning is needed
Jennifer Gladwin
February 26, 2020This such valuable advice. I’ve worked on the NICU and I would definitely second the importance of looking after yourself too.
Lily
February 27, 2020I am sorry you had to watch your little one in the NICU but happy things turned out for the best. I hope little Champ grows big and strong and keep his namesake true to him for life!
Samantha Donnelly
February 27, 2020This is a great post for those having a baby, I remember when I had my daughter I packed and unpacked the bag so many times not sure if I was taking the right things or if I had enough items.
Laura
February 27, 2020This is a really handy post for any parent who finds themselves having to spend time in NICU as you say its not what you plan for so having a resource like this owuld be really helpful. Hope you and little one are all ok now x
Elizabeth Williams
February 27, 2020Hope your little one is doing well now. I can only imagine how hard it is to have your baby in NICU. This post is a great resource for parents with a baby in NICU. I recently had a baby who was at risk of needing NICU care so this post would have been useful.
Elisha Fernandez
February 27, 2020Your little one is so sweet! The NICU is super intimidating, I hope to never go because it’d be so sad for me.
Britt K
February 27, 2020Great suggestions! Honestly, when the situation arises that someone is required to spend time with their little one in the NICU, it’s often overwhelming. Simply keeping a notepad and pen close at hand can make a world of difference. When you’re bombarded with so much news all at once, it’s no wonder that you forget a lot of it!
Jess Howliston
March 1, 2020These are such great tips and at such a often scary time lists like these will be so helpful to any new mum or dad! I would never have thought about something like a pen and paper for all the info and stuff they give you about your baby and your care etc!