Must Haves for Mama & Baby in the NICU

I am someone who likes to be prepared for any situation, and when my daughter was admitted to the NICU I was not as prepared as I would have liked. I had done some research on what we might need during her NICU stay, but other things were revealed as we moved through our stay.

Here are the items that I found were very beneficial to have on hand in the NICU:

*Sidenote: my daughter was in a NICU where all babies or sibling sets had their own rooms with storage and furniture for parents to use. Some of these suggestions may not work if you do not have a similar setup

1. A blanket & Pillow for Mama- on the days were I was so tired and my baby was sleeping I would curl up on the couch in the room to take a nap. It was so nice to have a warm blanket and pillow to make this more comfortable. Additionally, I used the blanket and pillow in the nursing/pumping chair while I was pumping to keep me warm, and supported.
   

2. A quilt/blanket for the Isolette- if your little one needs to spend time in a closed isolette you may want to bring in a quilt or solid blanket to cover the top of it with. This helps keep the many lights from the medical machines from bothering your baby's eyes, as well as helps muffle sounds even more. My hospital used receiving blankets until I was able to obtain one, so it's not 100% required you bring one, but I found it comforting to see a piece of home keeping my little one safe.
   

3. A Robe- this was a suggestion I found during my research while I was in the hospital and it was genius. Having a robe that stays in your baby's room means that no matter what you are wearing that day, you can strip off your shirt, put the robe on, and do skin-to-skin with your baby. I used a lighter robe because it gets hot when holding your little person.
   

4. Blanket for when you are skin-to-skin with baby- speaking of skin-to-skin, I recommend having two warm, soft blankets that stay in your baby's room that are specific for skin-to-skin time. Preemies have a difficult time regulating their body temperature so having a warm blanket to wrap around the two of you while you cuddle is vital!
   

5. A small collapsible drying rack- this one is best for mamas that are pumping, but it can be used when your baby moves to take bottles. For me to save on space I would travel with only one set of pump pieces at a time, so if I was going to be at the NICU from 9 am-6 pm, I would be pumping at least 3-4 times during my stay, so having a drying rack for my pump parts to dry after I was done and had washed them was super helpful because it helped them dry faster, but it also kept them out of the nurse's way and helped prevent them from being knocked or rolling to the floor.
   

6. A laundry bag/basket- Babies create lots of laundry and preemies are no exception. Having a specific location for you or the nurses to put soiled linens from home is a great way to prevent them from disappearing into the hospital laundry never to be seen again (it happens, but this helps).
   

7. Mini-crib sheets, receiving blankets, and muslin swaddles- It took me a bit to participate in having these in my room, but after the first time of seeing my baby wrapped in her own blankets, laying on her own bedding it was as if a piece of stress was removed. I don't know exactly why it created such a shift in me, but my best guess is that her surroundings became less clinical. I strongly recommend you talk with your baby's nurse and see when you can start bringing in bedding for them to use with your baby and then start as soon as you get approval.
   

8. Outfits with snap buttons- while in the hospital I don't recommend trying to muddle around with zippers ever. Invest in outfits with snap buttons- they make everything easier both in the hospital and in my opinion at home if you have a child with medical equipment beyond a nasal cannula for oxygen. As for what size, I can't tell you what will work for your kiddo, as babies are ready for clothes at different times and grow at different rates. I did include the Preemie-sized onesies we used in the NICU on my Registry Suggestions Post.
   

9. A boppy- I recommend investing in one of these no matter how you feed your baby. They are not only good for breastfeeding, but they are also great for providing support when holding your baby, as well as being a tool used during PT & OT.
   

10. A way to clip your baby's nails- fun fact, nurses are not allowed to cut your baby's nails, you have to do it. I used a pair of regular baby nail clippers (and yes I clipped her little finger and cried about it- but we both survived), but there are many other options out there. Just make sure you have something sooner rather than later. Those baby claws grow fast, are sharp and your baby will tear their face up!
    

11. Developmentally appropriate toys- This is a big suggestion if your baby is older when they are born, or they are in the NICU for a long time. I swear my daughter started to get bored in the NICU, she would be so unhappy, but when I started providing high-contrast picture cards (clearing it with her medical & therapy teams first) she would be less cranky. We eventually installed a high-contrast mobile that played music and she LOVED that. Other toy suggestions are toy links, o-ball rattles, mirrors, and soft rattle toys. We also invested in a stuffed animal paci holder, when she began taking her paci with regularity. This gave the nurses something to tuck into the blankets so she wouldn't spit it out and not be able to get it back. Some of our top suggestions are linked on my Registration Suggestions Post.
    

12. Children's Books- have a collection of books that live in your baby's room! I would always read at least one book to my daughter every day, and I know that the nurses would also read her some if she was having a rough moment. Reading to your baby is a great way to bond with your little person and is so great for their developing brain!
    

13. A sound machine- my hospital provided one of these, so my super fancy Hatch stayed at home, but if your hospital does not provide one I strongly recommend one that has a selection of sounds to choose from; I promise you neither you, your baby nor your baby's nurse will want to listen to the same noise for days, you will want variety. You also need to make sure it has a volume button. Babies are sensitive to loud noises and you are going to want to make sure you are following the guidelines on volumes for babies. Your OT will be a great resource to help you pick a sound machine and what the volume guidelines are.
    

14. Things for you to do- Your baby needs lots of sleep, which means they will likely be doing lots of sleeping while you are visiting. And though there is something peaceful and restoring to sitting by your baby while they are sleeping it can also get very boring. Make sure you keep things to do in your baby's room, as well as chargers for any electronic devices you may use. Check out my post "The Baby's Asleep, Now What?" for suggestions on things you can do!
    

15. A Kindle or e-reader- I am a physical book person, but the first time I held my baby for three hours straight and tried to read a physical book I knew I needed to switch over to an e-reader
    

16. A personal care kit for mama- A canvas bag with the following items will come in handy, I promise: chapstick, hand lotion, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, extra menstrual pads, nail file, nail clippers, hair ties/scrunchies/hair clip, extra non-slip socks. I used everything on this list more than once during my stay- and the few times I didn't have what I needed was the day I desperately needed it. I would also recommend a change of clothes.
    

17. Pens & notepad- you will sign a lot of paperwork throughout your stay. You will also get lots of information. Having a way to write it down is super convenient.
    

18. A sweatshirt- Preemies are finicky individuals. One day my baby HATED being hot, so her room stayed cold most days, but then she would HATE being cold, so the next day her room would be hot. Having a sweatshirt that just stays in the room will help you not get caught incorrectly dressed for your child's chosen climate of the day.

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