Days, weeks or even months in hospital mean the arrival of your baby will have been worlds apart from how you had imagined it. The first few days will have been a shock, but slowly the unit becomes almost a second home.

When the time finally comes to take your baby out of hospital, it is very natural to feel anxious and alone. There is good news though – you are not alone. Bliss is with you all the way, to support and advise you through the next big step for your baby and all your family.

In addition to all the valuable information and support we already provide families and carers, we have launched the second version of our Going Home Pack supported by Abbott, Pampers and Foresters Friendly Society.

The new Going Home Pack will be available in units from July 2010, so please make sure that you speak to a member of staff at the unit before you take your baby home. If you have recently been discharged, you may also be able to contact your unit to request a pack.

The Going Home Pack contains a huge range of useful information which should help you as you make that important transition to caring for your baby at home. The main booklet, called Going home - The next big step, will give you an overview of the things you are likely to have questions about – from sleeping and feeding, to follow-up appointments and how to travel by car. The booklet will then direct you to other booklets in the Pack that will provide you with more specific information on subjects including:

• breastfeeding
• weaning 
• financial advice 
• advice and support for fathers.

We also know how important it is to get back to some kind of normality and to celebrate your homecoming. That's why we have included some extra benefits for you to enjoy including:  

• vouchers and special offers from our proud supporters of the Going Home Pack - Pampers and Foresters Friendly Society, as well as other retailers such as Mothercare. You can also download and print these vouchers from the links on the right.
• a cheerful ‘progress chart’, to celebrate all the big and small milestones your baby reaches, featuring the lovable Lickle Ted
• a reusable wipe clean drawstring bag that we hope will be useful for carrying around all the additional things a baby needs!
  
• information about Bliss’ Family Support services, including Little bliss magazine, our Helpline and our volunteering schemes
• Information about the full range of Bliss’ work, from fundraising to campaigning all of which is vital to our work in supporting the 1 in 9 babies born premature or sick every year.
  

Health professionals can order copies online in packs of 10 from our publications page. Parents can order a single copy from Bliss Family Support on 020 7378 1122 or by emailing enquiries@bliss.org.uk 

The bag and its contents are distributed by Bliss, the national charity of the newborn, Charity no. 1002973. If you have any questions, please call Bliss on 020 7378 1122 or goinghomepack@bliss.org.uk