The nursery is furnished, the diapers stockpiled and the wait for the big day is on. So much time is spent preparing for the delivery and organizing the nursery for the new baby that parents tend to forget things like the weather and how it can affect not only the comfort of your infant once she arrives home, but also that time between – getting from hospital to home.

Whenever traveling with a newborn, it pays to be prepared for anything. In some areas, weather is unpredictable at various times of the year. By thinking ahead you can keep your new baby safe and comfortable on both his first trip out into the world and once you arrive home.

"When you bring a baby home in the spring there are fewer things to worry about than in other seasons, as the weather has less impact," says Barbara Dehn, a women's health nurse practitioner from Los Altos, Calif. "[However,] the weather can have some unexpected highs/lows and showers. That's why diaper bags need so many compartments for that extra hat, socks and a blanket to cover the baby with."

The last thing new parents need is to be caught unprepared. Taking home a baby who is too hot or, even worse, too cold, can be an unhappy experience for all.

"I delivered my first (and only) in mid-May," says April O'Herron of Brecksville, Ohio. "When I was admitted, it was warm. When I came out, I was totally unprepared. The weather was cold. [My baby] was screaming [and] we hadn't practiced the car seat latch, which was difficult to engage, and I could barely get my too-lightweight jacket on."

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