The team that attends the delivery and performs the initial newborn care and eventually neonatal resuscitation should introduce themselves to the mother and father – given that the resuscitation unit is prepared and there is enough time prior to delivery. The same applies to the non-emergent inter-hospital transport of neonates. If postnatal transport is warranted, parents should be informed about the main reason for the transport team's arrival (e.g., postnatal tachypnea). Later, the need for the newborn's transfer to a tertiary NICU should be explained and at the same time the parents should be reasonably reassured.

A well-adapted newborn infant should not be transferred, but dried and warmly wrapped up and placed on the mother's chest – if there is any doubt, early assessment by a pediatrician and strict observation, which may include pulse oximetry, are required.

If basic measures have to be performed on the resuscitation unit (suctioning, stimulation, oxygen supplementation; e.g., after C–section), the father may be brought to the baby when spontaneous breathing/crying is established, and the newborn appears to be adapting well and appears stable. Let the father know what you are doing and how his child's transition into the ex utero world is going (i.e., in most cases, give reassurance).

Conversations with the parents may be difficult and demanding when the condition of the baby is critical. The physician performing the resuscitation/intensive care should mention and emphasize the critical condition of the newborn with sensitivity, empathy, and honesty.