Objectives: To determine 1) the extent to which parents’ prenatal preparation for neonatal unit (NNU) care meets their perceived needs: 2) if there are differences between parents’ ‘prepared’ in different ways and between ‘prepared’ and ‘unprepared’ parents in their level of anxiety, their initial contact with their baby and support by NNU staff. 3) how NNU staff perceive the support required and given by them to parents ‘unprepared’ and ‘prepared’ in different ways, for NNU care. Findings:  Most parents felt preparation for NNU care as irrelevant unless in a high-risk pregnancy. Most parents were ‘unprepared’ for NNU care, but 19 (30%) mothers and 7 (28%) fathers had previous experience of NNU, and 18 (28%) mothers and 9 (36%) fathers had prenatal information about NNU, mainly from doctors and midwives. The majority of parents had low trait and moderate state anxiety. The mean state anxiety scores were independent of whether the parents were ‘prepared’ or ‘unprepared’, and the type of preparation. Most parents were no more anxious than usual when their baby was admitted to NNU. Qualitatively, parents given prenatal information found coping easier, and parents with previous experience felt their anxiety moderated. Most parents who had held their baby prior to participation had significant lower mean state anxiety scores than those who had not held their baby. Qualitatively, most parents were disappointed if they were unable to hold their baby and if initial contact was delayed. Some parents with previous experience participated in their baby’s care more quickly than parents within experience, but most parents helped care for their baby within 48 hours of admission. All parents felt equally well supported by NNU staff. Staff indicated that similar levels of support were given to all parents, as they were usually unaware of their preparedness. Conclusions, Implications for Practice and Further Research: Quantitatively, the relationship, if any, between prenatal information and/or previous experience and differences between trait and state anxiety remains unclear.