Ongoing education and resources

• An important part of your stay will be the opportunity to complete your patient education checklist on ways to safely care for your baby in preparation for going home.
• You will need to complete education on infant resuscitation, safe sleeping, signs of an unwell baby, how to prepare infant formula (if formula feeding) and other things related to caring for your baby. You will need to sign these off before you go home.

What is “parent crafting” and do I have to do it?

• “Parent crafting” or “rooming in” is the last part of your stay in the nursery.  We invite you to stay in a room located near the nursery, caring for your baby independently, with the support of the nursing team. We recommend that families who have had an extended stay in the nursery and exclusively breastfeeding babies, spend up to three nights in the parent craft area (most families spend 2 nights).  As your baby gets closer to going home, the nursing team will talk to you about going to parent craft.  The expected days are ”booked in” and the team will work with you to get you and your baby ready.  On the day that you transfer to parent craft, your baby will have a health check by the doctor, and you will move out to the parent craft space with your baby.  Parent meals, nappies and formula are provided.  There is a queen-sized bed and ensuite.  While you are in the parent craft space, you have access to a special care nursery nurse, who can assist with the transition to independent care of your baby.  You and your baby are discharged home from parent craft.

Parent information

RBWH Resources

• Antibiotics – why does my baby need them?
• Baby feeding cues (preterm)
• Baby feeding cues (term)
• Baby safety and security within the hospital
• Back transfer preparation
• Breast pumps – hire or buy?
• Dummies and pacifiers
• Eye reviews
• Feeding the late preterm and early term baby
• Hand expressing technique
• Having challenges with breastfeeding?
• Head scan – routine – neonatology
• Home oxygen
• How do I tell if breastfeeding is going well?
• How to assess your baby’s feeds
• How to bottle feed
• How to express and store your breast milk
• Immunisations – Preterm Babies
• Infant CPR
• Jaundice
• Lactation Service – information for parents
• Making more breast milk
• Mastitis
• MRI scan – neonatology
• Nasogastric tube feeding
• NeoHOME
• Neonatal chronic lung disease
• Nipple shields
• Parentcrafting
• Planning for home – neonatology
• Pulse oximetry screening
• Skin to skin (Kangaroo Care)