Near to discharge parents may be room-in with their infants to learn about their baby’s care with nursing supervision and assistance.

Cardiorespiratory monitoring should be discontinued prior to rooming-in unless the infant will go home on a monitor. If the infant is going home on a monitor or with supplemental oxygen, the infant’s home equipment should be used in the family room. (Infants should be oximetered on home O₂ equipment prior to moving out to the family room.) Parents should receive CPR instruction prior to rooming-in.

Parents should be instructed not to leave the infant unattended and to check ID bands before releasing their infant to anyone. They should be given the NICU phone number and be aware of how to obtain help if necessary.

They should be instructed to feed the infant ad lib q 3-4 hours (unless otherwise ordered by the physician) and to wake the infant up for feedings if necessary. A shift’s supply of formula, nipples, and any additives should be provided.

The patient’s nurse should check on the infant q 3-4 hours in conjunction with the feeding schedule. Assessment and vital signs should be performed every 8 hours. Blood pressure does not need to be taken. The baby should continue to be weighed daily.

This information can also be found in the NICU Nursing Guidelines 40:08.16.