Preparing for Your Hospital Stay
At Children’s National Hospital, we strive to make your family’s visit or extended stay both safe and comfortable. Whether you’re visiting our main hospital in Washington, D.C., or one of our specialty care locations throughout the region, you may have questions before, during or after your child’s visit.
We’re here to answer your questions and provide you with useful information about getting here, what you need to bring and what you should know about our facilities.
Visiting Resources
Hospital Tours
Children's National offers virtual and in-person tours to help prepare children and families for their journey.
Places to Stay and Things to Do
Children's National Hospital is here to help you make arrangements for your stay nearby while your child receives care. The Housing and Amenities Team is happy to help you navigate the process for securing accommodations. While you're in Washington, D.C., learn about activities you can do during your stay.
Spending the Night at the Hospital
Parents and legal guardians are welcome to visit Children’s National 24 hours a day. We strongly encourage parents to be with their child during an overnight (inpatient) stay. Your presence is comforting, especially for younger children. Learn more about spending the night.
Talking to Your Child About Hospitalization
We understand that you may be unsure about what to tell your child about surgery. Here are some age-appropriate guidelines from our Child Life Specialists to help prepare both you and your child.
Getting to the Hospital
We hope your trip to Children's National Hospital is easy to navigate, whether by car or public transportation. Here are tips for traveling to — and parking at — our main hospital campus.