The short version. Take one newborn care class before the birth, then sign up for the free Family Connects nurse home visit, which comes to you around 3 weeks in, right when the real questions show up. Call 541-322-7475 or sign up online. Any insurance, any income.
Skills worth practicing before the birth
Look for a class where you handle a doll, not one where you watch a slideshow.
- Holding, picking up and passing a newborn
- Diapering and cord care
- Swaddling and other ways to soothe
- Safe sleep: on the back, on a firm flat surface, with nothing else in the sleep space
- Feeding cues and burping
- Bathing
- Taking a temperature, and what number means call the doctor
- How partners split the nights
What a newborn class cannot teach
Classes cover the baby. They rarely cover what the first two weeks do to the adults. Before the due date, talk through three things at home: who handles which part of the night, who is allowed to visit and when, and what each of you will do if the other is struggling. Then save a number from the postpartum support guide.
Line these up at the same time
- Choose a pediatrician and ask how the first visit is scheduled.
- Take infant CPR. A newborn class is not a CPR class.
- Get the car seat checked.
- Save the St. Charles lactation line: 541-706-4924.
Free reading while you wait
The Deschutes Public Library keeps “New Baby” book lists and early learning resources for ages 0 to 5, and a library card is free for county residents. For safe sleep, use current American Academy of Pediatrics guidance and ask your pediatrician about your baby’s situation.
Common questions
Who qualifies for the free nurse home visit?
Any caregiver of a newborn who lives in Deschutes County. There is no income limit, and the program accepts all insurance, including OHP and private plans. Call 541-322-7475 or sign up online.
We took a childbirth class. Do we need newborn care too?
Check what your class covered. Some spend a whole session on the baby and some barely touch it. If yours did not, the free home visit and a short free event can fill the gap.
Should grandparents come to a newborn class?
It helps a lot. Safe sleep advice in particular has changed since they raised you, and hearing it from an instructor is easier than hearing it from you.
What should we ask before leaving the hospital?
When the first pediatrician visit should be and who books it, who to call after hours, how to reach lactation services, and which symptoms mean call right away.
Is there a class after the baby is born?
Yes. The Family Connects visit is one-on-one teaching in your living room. For a group, see parent and baby groups and postpartum support.
Where these facts come from
Last checked October 8, 2026. Classes fill, schedules shift and prices change, so confirm with the provider before you go. This is local information, not medical advice.