NICU Guidelines

To help protect newborns being cared for in the Rady Children's at Southwest Healthcare Rancho Springs Hospital's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), please remember the following: 

• Help control infection by washing your hands well, after entering the NICU.
• If you’re ill, please do not enter the NICU except under unusual situations. Please wear the mask that we provide to you.
• Limit the number of NICU visitors. We ask that a maximum of three people be in the NICU with your baby at any given time.
• Keep voices and noise at a minimum. NICU newborns are very sensitive.

Cell Phones

Please silence your cell phone before entering the NICU and observe other no-cell areas in the hospital. The ringing of cell phones is very disturbing to NICU babies’ extra-sensitive ears.

Baby Privacy

Patient privacy is a priority at Rady Children's at Rancho Springs Hospital NICU. Please do not ask about other babies or families — their information is confidential. When discussing your baby's condition, you may move to a private area. Privacy screens are available as needed.

Siblings and other Visitors

Brothers and sisters are encouraged to visit their new sibling in the NICU. Visitors must be healthy (no colds) and they must wash their hands at the wash station prior to visiting the bedside.

Because the risk of infection is so high in NICU babies, we request that visitors under the age of 18 be limited to siblings. People who are older than 18 are welcome to visit with a parent or partner in care.