When can you hold baby in NICU

Depending on your baby's health, you might be able to hold your little one even if he or she is on a ventilator or has an IV. If the doctors feel that would be too much, you can still hold your baby's hand, stroke his or her head, and talk and sing to him or her. A gentle touch will be the most reassuring.

Can I touch my NICU baby?

If your baby is very small or sick, you might not be able to hold them yet – but you can still touch them. Just like any baby, your baby in the NICU needs the comfort of human touch. But you do need to be very careful and gentle when you touch sick or premature babies.

What is the earliest a NICU baby can go home?

The earliest a baby can go home is 35 weeks gestation, but I usually advise parents to expect to go home close to their due date. If they get to go home earlier, it's a bonus.

Can you hold a preemie baby?

At first, you might not be able to hold your premature or ill baby in your arms. But you can use the comfort hold to connect with them. To do the comfort hold: Wash your hands.

Does a baby born at 35 weeks have to stay in the NICU?

Although every baby is different, in most cases babies born before 36 weeks of gestation require a minimum of one day of observation in the NICU before they are transferred to the postpartum floor to stay with you.