For six years in a row, U.S. News & World Report has ranked our Neonatology program #1 in the country.
If you have a sick or premature infant, you want and need the best possible care. You'll find that care at Children's National Hospital — U.S. News & World Report has ranked our neonatology program number 1 in the country for six years in a row.
At Children’s National, our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a Level IV NICU. As a Level IV NICU, we offer the highest level of care for premature and ill newborns, as designated by The American Academy of Pediatrics. This means we can:
All neonatal intensive care units care for babies who need special help, but different NICUs offer different levels of care.
Your baby will receive the focus and attention of a team of the best specialists. Because we only treat children and infants, our care team includes leading physicians in every major pediatric surgical and medical subspecialty — like neurology and others — right here on our main campus. That way if your baby needs a specialized type of care, our team can consult immediately, 24/7, with an expert colleague they know and trust.
The nurses who provide around-the-clock care for your baby are also specially trained in infant intensive care. Our NICU nurses maintain multiple certifications, including many certified lactation specialists, are nationally recognized, and have received Magnet™ designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
You can be with your baby anytime. We designed our NICU with input from parents and families like you, who have had a child in NICU care. From the comfortable, soundproof flooring and indirect lighting, to the large private patient rooms with comfortable rockers, our NICU is a soothing and secure environment for you and your child.
We know that your family is a core part of your baby’s recovery and healing. That is why we offer unique programs and services, like:
Your baby is our focus, but the emotional and physical health of your entire family is our goal. Learn more about our Specialized Programs or visit our Resources for Families, where you will find information about what to expect while in the NICU, feeding and bonding resources and a list of supportive services we offer.
Our goal is to get your baby home with you as soon as is safely possible. Bringing home a tiny baby for the first time after a serious illness can be concerning for many parents. That’s why we offer Parent Transition Rooms, a hotel-like room that allows parents to “practice” being at home with their child — with the reassurance of the NICU staff nearby.
Our care doesn’t stop when you leave. Our Child Development Program evaluates NICU graduates to ensure they are developing appropriately.
See how the teams in the Children's National NICU support families in our care in this tour with Neonatology Division Chief Billie Lou Short, M.D.
Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is the heart of Children's National Hospital Neonatology program, ranked #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Learn about the NICU facilities and the support we provide for the entire family.
Thomas’s internal and external challenges, all considered individually very rare, added up to an extremely rare combination known as VACTERL association.