Quick answer: Home phototherapy for newborn jaundice should occur only when the baby’s clinician has confirmed eligibility, prescribed the treatment and arranged bilirubin follow-up. Sunlight is not a substitute for prescribed phototherapy.
Questions before the baby goes home
- What is the baby’s age in hours and current bilirubin result?
- Why is home treatment considered appropriate?
- When and where will bilirubin be rechecked?
- How many hours of treatment are prescribed?
- What feeding and output plan should parents follow?
- Which symptoms require immediate hospital assessment?
Equipment questions
- What wavelength and irradiance does the exact device provide?
- How is irradiance checked and documented?
- What treatment distance or positioning does the manufacturer specify?
- Which areas of skin should be exposed and how are the eyes protected?
- How should temperature, feeding and hydration be monitored?
- What is the response to a power failure or device fault?
Do not judge treatment by skin colour alone
Visual appearance cannot reliably show whether bilirubin is at a safe level. Parents should keep every scheduled bilirubin test and clinical review. Do not stop treatment early because the baby appears less yellow.
Seek urgent medical help
Follow the paediatrician’s instructions. Urgent assessment is needed for unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking, poor feeding, abnormal cry, limpness or stiffness, fever, breathing difficulty, seizures or another concern identified by the clinician.
Sanjeevia’s role
Sanjeevia can supply the prescribed phototherapy equipment, explain manufacturer controls, confirm included parts and provide equipment support. It cannot decide eligibility, treatment duration or bilirubin-testing frequency.
Review the listed phototherapy equipment and read the more detailed phototherapy rental and safety guide.
This guide does not replace paediatric assessment or bilirubin testing.