When your baby is in the NICU or coming home after a NICU stay, there can be so much information to process that it is hard to know what to ask. Between medical updates, feeding plans, specialist appointments, and discharge instructions, many parents leave conversations realizing they forgot half of the questions they wanted to ask.
Having a simple list of questions can help you feel more informed, more confident, and better prepared to care for your baby. You do not need to ask everything at once, but keeping important questions written down can make a big difference during a stressful time.
This guide will help you think through helpful questions to ask your baby’s healthcare team both in the NICU and after discharge.
Why It Helps to Write Questions Down
When you are exhausted, emotional, and trying to absorb medical information, it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Writing your questions down can help you:
☐ Feel more prepared for rounds or appointments
☐ Understand your baby’s care plan more clearly
☐ Track changes over time
☐ Advocate for your baby with more confidence
☐ Reduce the mental load of trying to remember everything
A notebook, NICU planner, or notes app can all work.
Questions to Ask in the NICU
1. Questions About Your Baby’s Current Condition
These questions can help you understand where things stand right now.
You might ask:
☐ What is my baby’s current condition today?
☐ What are the biggest concerns right now?
☐ What progress has my baby made since yesterday or this week?
☐ Are there any new test results I should understand?
☐ What are the next important milestones we are watching for?
If something feels unclear, it is okay to ask for it to be explained in simpler language.
2. Questions About Breathing and Medical Support
If your baby is receiving breathing support or monitoring, you may want to ask:
☐ What kind of breathing support is my baby on right now?
☐ What does this machine or monitor do?
☐ What signs show that my baby is improving?
☐ What needs to happen before breathing support can be reduced?
☐ Are there any risks or side effects I should know about?
3. Questions About Feeding
Feeding is often one of the biggest parts of the NICU journey, and it can feel especially confusing.
Helpful questions include:
☐ How is my baby being fed right now?
☐ Is my baby taking feeds by tube, bottle, breast, or a combination?
☐ How much is my baby eating each day?
☐ Is weight gain on track?
☐ What feeding milestones does my baby need to reach before discharge?
☐ What can I do to support feeding progress?
If you are pumping or breastfeeding, you can also ask:
☐ Is there lactation support available?
☐ When can we try direct breastfeeding if that is our goal?
4. Questions About Medications and Treatments
If your baby is receiving medications, supplements, or procedures, it helps to understand why.
You might ask:
☐ What medications is my baby receiving right now?
☐ What is each medication for?
☐ Are there any side effects I should know about?
☐ How long will my baby likely need this treatment?
☐ Are there any upcoming procedures or tests planned?
5. Questions About Daily Care and Parent Involvement
Many parents feel more connected when they know how they can participate in their baby’s care.
You can ask:
☐ How can I be involved in my baby’s care today?
☐ Can I help with diaper changes, temperature checks, or feeds?
☐ Is skin-to-skin contact possible right now?
☐ Are there times of day that are best for visiting or participating in care?
☐ What should I know about comforting or bonding with my baby in the NICU?
6. Questions About Discharge Readiness
As discharge starts to feel closer, these questions become especially important.
You might ask:
☐ What milestones does my baby need to reach before going home?
☐ Are there any tests that must be completed before discharge?
☐ Will my baby go home with medications, oxygen, or special feeding instructions?
☐ What should we expect in the first few days at home?
☐ What warning signs should we watch for after discharge?
Questions to Ask Before Leaving the NICU
When discharge is approaching, it helps to ask practical questions about life at home.
7. Questions About Feeding at Home
☐ How often should we feed our baby at home?
☐ How much should our baby be taking at each feed?
☐ Do we need to fortify milk or use a specific formula?
☐ What should we do if feeding becomes difficult?
☐ Who should we contact if we have feeding concerns?
8. Questions About Follow-Up Care
Premature babies or NICU graduates often need follow-up appointments.
Ask:
☐ Which follow-up appointments are already scheduled?
☐ Which specialists will our baby need to see?
☐ What developmental milestones should we be watching for?
☐ Should we use corrected age when tracking development?
☐ Who will coordinate our baby’s ongoing care after discharge?
9. Questions About Medications and Daily Care at Home
☐ What medications or supplements will my baby need at home?
☐ How and when should we give them?
☐ Are there any side effects we should watch for?
☐ What sleep position and safe sleep guidance should we follow?
☐ Are there any activity restrictions or special care instructions?
10. Questions About When to Call for Help
One of the most reassuring things you can ask is when to worry and who to contact.
You might ask:
☐ What symptoms mean we should call the doctor right away?
☐ What should we do if our baby has feeding difficulties?
☐ What if our baby seems sleepier than usual?
☐ What if breathing looks different or more difficult?
☐ Who do we call after hours if we are concerned?
Questions to Ask at Follow-Up Appointments After Discharge
Even after your baby comes home, questions often continue.
You may want to ask:
☐ Is my baby gaining weight appropriately?
☐ Are feeding and sleep patterns looking okay?
☐ Are there any developmental concerns we should watch for?
☐ What milestones are realistic right now?
☐ Are there therapies or services that would help?
☐ What should we focus on between now and the next appointment?
A Simple Questions Page You Can Keep in Your Planner
It can help to keep one page where you write questions as they come up.
You might divide it into sections like:
☐ Feeding questions
☐ Medication questions
☐ Discharge questions
☐ Developmental questions
☐ Follow-up appointment questions
☐ Emotional or practical concerns
That way, you do not have to rely on memory when you are already carrying so much.
NICU and Discharge Questions Checklist
☐ Questions about current condition
☐ Questions about breathing support
☐ Questions about feeding
☐ Questions about medications
☐ Questions about parent involvement in care
☐ Questions about discharge milestones
☐ Questions about follow-up appointments
☐ Questions about medications and feeding at home
☐ Questions about when to call for help
Final Thoughts
You do not need to know everything or ask every question perfectly to be a good NICU parent. Asking questions is not a sign that you are difficult — it is a sign that you are trying to understand and care for your baby as best you can. Keep your questions in one place, ask for clarification when you need it, and remember that you are allowed to ask the same question more than once if that is what helps you feel informed.
Looking for a printable NICU planner, premature baby medical binder, or appointment tracker?
Visit our Shop for NICU support printables designed to help parents organize medical updates, questions, milestones, and follow-up care during the NICU journey and beyond.