#  Getting Ready to Go Home: Baby Checklist 

 

      ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/f78bc934-6cad-4206-ba46-bbe3180f3793/BMC_01-29_3-4-Misc-GoingHome?io=transform:fill,width:1000px&format=webp)  

 

## Preparing for Your Baby’s First Trip Home

Going home with your baby is an exciting milestone. Before you leave the hospital, it helps to have a few important items ready and know what to expect. This checklist will guide you through what you’ll need for your baby’s first day home.

### Going Home Outfit

- Warm weather: A onesie, a light blanket, and a hat
- Cold weather: Warm pajamas, a hat, a cozy blanket, and a car seat cover for warmth
    - **Safety tip:** Buckle your baby first, then place the blanket over the straps.

### Plan Your Ride Home

Plan your ride home ahead of time. Our goal is for you and your baby to leave the hospital together by 11 a.m.

### Car Seat

Boston Medical Center requires all newborns to have a [rear-facing car seat](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/obgyn/files/2018/04/04.20.18_OBGYN_Car-Seat-QA.pdf) before going home, even if parents do not own a car.

- [WellSense members](https://www.wellsense.org/members/ma/masshealth/your-extras): You may be eligible for a free car seat—ask your care team for more information.

[Learn More About Car Seat Safety](/bump-beyond/newborn-care/safety/car-seat-safety)

### Birth Certificate

Make sure you have the documents you need to complete your[ baby’s birth certificate](/bump-beyond/labor-and-birth/hospital-baby/getting-birth-certificate-your-baby) before discharge.

### Newborn Appointment

Decide where your baby will receive care. We’ll help you [schedule your baby’s first appointment](/bump-beyond/newborn-care/medical-care/well-child-visit-schedule) for when they are three to five days old.

### HUGS Security Band

Before you leave, your nurse will remove the HUGS security band from your baby to confirm you’re cleared for discharge.