Prepare for Your Newborn’s Hospital Stay

From the moment your child is born, we do everything we can to ensure that he or she is healthy, safe, and comfortable. As you prepare to deliver your baby at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital or NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, you may want to learn more about what to bring and what to expect during your newborn’s time in the hospital.

What to Pack for Your Newborn’s Hospital Stay

In the weeks before your due date, you likely have started packing your bag for the hospital. There are many items you may bring for yourself, but your baby needs very little during those first days of life. Our nursing staff provides nearly everything your baby uses after birth, including diapers, T-shirts, swaddling blankets, and bath supplies.

There are only two items we recommend you bring:

• an outfit and blanket for your newborn’s trip home
• a car seat if you are taking your baby home in a car, or a stroller if you are walking home from the hospital

For safety reasons, we do not allow you to carry your baby in your arms or hold him or her in an infant carrier, so please have a car seat or stroller available the day you leave.

Find a Pediatrician

If you need a pediatrician for your baby, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital has more than 150 general pediatricians throughout the New York City area.

Learn More

We recommend you add “choosing a pediatrician” to your list of things to do before your child is born. When you choose your baby’s pediatrician in advance, we can quickly and easily forward medical records. Also, it’s recommended that you bring your baby to see a general pediatrician within 48 hours of being discharged from the hospital. Having a doctor you can call ahead of time for an appointment makes those first few days easier for you.

What to Expect When Your Baby Is Born

After most births, your baby can be placed on your chest immediately for skin-to-skin contact. While you’re both still in the delivery room, we weigh your baby, record his or her footprints, and give your baby a wrist identification bracelet and an infant security tag. You receive an identical bracelet to your baby’s.

If your baby is born early or has complications that require extra monitoring, he or she might be brought to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tisch Hospital or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, also known as the NICU. Parents can visit their babies anytime in the NICU, day or night.

When you and your baby are ready to leave the delivery room, we bring you to the room you share in the Mother–Baby Unit. Keeping you and your baby in the same room is one of the principles of a Baby-Friendly Hospital. This designation, awarded to Tisch Hospital and NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn by Baby-Friendly USA, recognizes hospitals that meet certain criteria, including supporting breastfeeding. However, you can request that your baby be taken to the neonatal observation area at any time.

For New and Expecting Parents

Find information on how to prepare for your child’s birth at NYU Langone.

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We know you are concerned about your baby’s nutrition. If you choose to breastfeed, you can ask a nurse for help at any time. If you need extra assistance, one of our certified lactation consultants can work with you one-on-one.

If you choose not to breastfeed, we teach you how to safely prepare formula and let you know how much your baby needs.

Within the first 24 hours, a pediatrician visits your baby in your room. This can be your home pediatrician, if he or she practices at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, or a staff pediatrician. Most infant care can be done right in your room. This includes administering the hepatitis B vaccine. Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that all newborns receive this vaccine.

Going Home with Your Baby

We know you are excited to bring your baby home. How long you and your baby stay in the hospital depends on the type of birth, whether vaginal or cesarean, and both you and your baby’s overall health.

When you are ready to go home, our nurses review the discharge process, answer any questions you have, and teach you some of the basics of newborn care. You receive written instructions on what to expect, as well as symptoms and signs to watch for that would warrant a call to your pediatrician.