Visiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Renée Schine Crown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Prentice Women's Hospital
250 E. Superior Street
Parking is available
Parents / Guardians
Parents / guardians may be with their baby 24 hours a day. However, to provide care, you may be asked to step out of the NICU at certain times. Nursing report and medical rounds generally occur at the following times:
- 7:30 to 8 a.m.
- Mid-morning for an hour during rounds
- 3:30 to 4 p.m.
- 7:30 to 8 p.m.
- 11:30 p.m. to 12 midnight
Adult Family & Friends
- Grandparents, other family members and friends may visit anytime but a banded parent or guardian must be present.
- A total of four people may visit at the baby's bedside.
- Siblings ages 2 to 11 may be with the baby in the NICU from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. To prepare for the sibling visit, please talk with the NICU nurse. You will need to:
- Pre-arrange the visit
- Provide proof of the child's immunization
- Check your child for signs of sickness
- Make sure your child has not been recently exposed to an illness
- Complete a health screening form with the nurse upon arrival. In addition, the nurse will take the visiting child's temperature
- Siblings 12 years of age or older may spend time in the NICU with a banded parent/guardian at any time.
- Make arrangements with the NICU nurse for the siblings visit:
- Please do not bring siblings or visitors into the NICU if they have colds, the flu, or if they have been exposed to a contagious illness such as chicken pox or measles.
Protecting Your Baby
Please follow these guidelines and share this information with others who may wish to visit your baby in the NICU.
- Do not come to the NICU if you are sick, may be getting sick, or have been exposed to someone that is sick.
- Please stay only at your baby’s bedside and do not touch or visit other babies.
To help prevent the spread of germs, each time you enter the NICU, please follow these steps:
- Place belongings in the locker provided. Please leave your valuables at home.
- Remove rings, watches, and bracelets. (Except infant ID Band.) Turn off cell phones.
- The NICU staff will direct you to the area to wash your hands.
- Roll up sleeves above the elbow.
- If hands are dirty, wash them first with soap and water and dry completely.
- As needed, use the nail picks provided for cleaning under your nails.
- Apply waterless hand cleanser and clean hands and forearms to elbows.
- Allow to air dry.
- Put a clean cover gown on over your clothes.
- Clean your hands with the waterless hand scrub at your infant’s bedside before and after touching your baby.
Clothes and Toys
You may bring in a small toy or an outfit for your baby. Label all items with your baby's last name using a laundry marker. Please limit the number of items that you bring since space is limited and so not to over-stimulate your baby.
Calling the NICU
Parents or a designated significant other may call for information 24 hours a day by calling 1-888-349-2229 or 312-472-1020.
