About neonatal care

Parent in hospital chair holding a newborn baby, smiling up at another parent whose finger is being held by the baby.

Information for your first few days in the neonatal unit. Read about what to expect, finding your feet, and how to get more support.

Dad changing his premature baby's nappy, in hospital

About neonatal care - a quick guide

This page contains brief answers to some of the questions you may have about neonatal care, or for when you arrive on a neonatal unit.
Dad in a hospital gown with his baby on his bare chest, the baby is looking up at him

When you first arrive on the neonatal unit

Our 'About neonatal care' section contains lots of information and guidance to help you understand neonatal care and navigate your first few days on a neonatal unit.
A mum holding her baby in hospital while the baby is attached to some wires

What is neonatal care?

This page contains information to help you understand what neonatal care is and why your baby might be in neonatal care.
Dad in hospital reaching his hand into an incubator to touch his baby.

How does neonatal care work?

It can be confusing to understand your baby’s level of care. Here, we talk about the different levels of care neonatal units provide.
A bearded dad looks down and smiles at his baby who is on his bare chest. There is a blanket wrapped around one of his shoulders.

Care on the unit

This page talks about how babies are cared for on units and daily routines.
Parents and feeding

Being a parent on the neonatal unit

This page contains lots of guidance and advice about how you can help to care for your baby with the neonatal team, how you can bond with your baby while on the unit,…
A parent in hospital standing next to her baby who is in an incubator, speaking to two members of neonatal staff. One of the staff members is holding a folder of paperwork.

Neonatal staff and what they do

This page talks about the different members of the neonatal care team, and provides some suggestions for questions you can ask them about your baby's care.
A parent is standing next to a baby in an incubator, with her hand through the hand hole touching the baby. Another parent is sitting in a chair next to the incubator, holding another baby.

Equipment on the neonatal unit

We hear from parents that the equipment on the neonatal unit can seem overwhelming when you first arrive. In this page, we explain what some of the equipment looks…
Photo of an ambulance outside a hospital

Transferring your baby to another hospital

Transferring a baby born premature or sick to another hospital is quite common. Units are very used to moving babies and will help you through the process.
A nurse with her hands inside an incubator where there is a baby wrapped in a white blanket.

Tests and care your baby might be given

This page explains some of the tests, scans and care given to babies in a neonatal unit. For any test or treatment your baby may need, health professionals will talk to…
Dad and sibling

Support for you and your family

This page gives more information about how you and your family can be supported in your first few days on the neonatal unit.
Baby foot

What might happen next?

This page can answer some of the questions you might have about the next steps of your journey.
Quote baby holding dads finger

Words you might hear on the neonatal unit

This page contains a guide to help you understand some of the common words and terms you might hear while on a neonatal unit.

The information in this section is due for review November 2025.

About neonatal care - acknowledgements and references