Whether your baby comes home from the hospital right away, arrives later (perhaps after a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit), or comes through an adoption agency, the homecoming of your little one is a major event you've probably often imagined. Of course, it may or may not turn out to be what you'd expected. Read on to find out how to be prepared in any situation.

Leaving the Hospital
Moms-to-be sometimes pack clothes for the trip home before even going to the hospital - or they may wait to see what the weather brings and have their partner bring clothing for both themselves and the baby. Plan to bring loose-fitting clothing for yourself with a drawstring or elastic waste because you most likely won't yet fit into your pre-pregnancy outfits yet.

Babies are frequently overdressed for the first trip home. In warm weather, it's practical to dress your baby in a T-shirt and diaper and wrap him or her in a baby blanket. Hats aren't necessary, but they can be a cute finishing touch, especially for the first picture in the hospital. If it's cold, add a snowsuit and an extra blanket. Chances are much better that you'll bring home a calm, contented baby if you don't spend a lot of time at the hospital trying to dress your baby in a complicated outfit that may require pushing and pulling your baby's arms and legs to get him or her dressed.

Before you leave the hospital, make sure to ask when the baby's first checkup should be scheduled. Depending on the circumstances, some premature babies also go home with a special monitor for breathing and heart rate, and you may be taught infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). But whether your baby is full-term or premature, don't feel rushed out the door - have your questions answered before leaving the hospital. And if you find yourself wondering about anything - from bathing to breastfeeding to burping - ask your nurse, lactation consultant, or your baby's doctor.

The Car Trip
The most important item for the trip home is a proper child safety seat (car seat). Every state requires parents to have one before leaving the hospital because it's one of the best ways to protect your baby.

Even for a short trip, it's never safe for one of you to hold your baby in your arms while the other drives. Your baby could be pulled from your arms and thrown against the dashboard by a quick stop.

It's a good idea to purchase, rent, or borrow a car seat before your baby's born, when you have time to choose carefully. There are two kinds of car seats for babies: infant-only seats (which must be replaced when your baby weighs 20 pounds) and convertible seats that accommodate both infants and older children.

Infant-only seats are designed for rear-facing use only and fit infants better than convertible seats. Infants must be in rear-facing car seats until they're 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. (If your baby exceeds that weight before his or her first birthday, you'll need to use a convertible seat designed for bigger babies.) Some parents of newborns find that a "travel system," which includes a stroller and an infant-only car seat that can be attached to the stroller, make it much smoother to transition babies - especially sleeping ones - from the car to the stroller.

Convertible seats face toward the rear until your baby is 20 pounds and 1 year old, and can be turned to face forward after that. (Some convertible seats have higher rear-facing weight limits to accommodate larger babies younger than 1 year).

Never put a rear-facing infant or convertible seat in the front seat of your car - always use the rear seat. Passenger-side airbags in the front seat cabin are hazardous for both rear- and forward-facing car seats, and most accidents happen at the front passenger area of the car. When it's cold, strap your baby in snugly first, then put blankets over the baby.

If you borrow a car seat, make sure that it's not more than 10 years old and was never in a crash (even if it looks OK, it could be structurally unsound). Avoid seats that are missing parts or aren't labeled with the manufacture date and model number (you'll have no way to know about recalls). Also, check the seat for the manufacturer's recommended "expiration date." If you have any doubts about the seat's history, or if it's cracked or shows signs of wear and tear, don't use it.

Inquire at your prenatal classes, health care provider's office, hospital, and insurance company about rental or loan programs for car seats - they're quite common.

When buying a new seat, it's important to remember that there isn't one type of seat that's safest or best; get one that fits and can be correctly installed in your car. And higher price doesn't necessarily indicate a seat's quality - it may simply mean the seat has added features that you may or may not want. Also, be sure to register your new seats, so you can be notified of any problems or recalls.

The most common problem involving car seats is improper installation (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the majority of all car seats are installed incorrectly). In recent years, new LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) car seats have become standard in the United States, but a large percentage of these seats are improperly installed too. Don't trust illustrations or store displays. Follow the manufacturer's instructions - and hang on to them. Ask your child's doctor or nurse about local resources where your car seat can be checked by someone specifically trained to evaluate car seat installations. Many hospitals, police and fire stations, and even car dealerships offer this type of service for free. Make sure that the evaluation is done by someone trained and experienced.

If you're bringing your baby home from the intensive care unit, bring the car seat to the hospital ahead of time, so the staff can see if it will work for your baby. If special health concerns rule out a standard restraint, ask your child's doctor to recommend car seats for children with special needs.

For more information on the proper use of child safety seats, read our article on auto safety.

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