NICU
Sibling Visitation
Every big brother and big sister cannot wait to see their new little brother or sister. It's a very special moment for all parents to have their families together for the first time with the newest member of the family.
In the NICU, there may or may not be restrictions on sibling visitation. Often, since babies, especially neonatal infants, have very low immune systems, visitation by children can be restricted. This can include siblings.
Since children are much more likely to be around other children, and have a much higher tendancy to pass along bacteria and viruses, there may be a limitation to how often a big brother or sister may visit.
This is purely in the best interest of not only your baby, but every baby in the neonatal unit. Just bumping into a chair or crib, or accidentally sneezing or coughing, risks infecting a baby.
Some units may not let siblings under a certain age visit. For instance, there are some neonatal units that will not let a sibling under four years of age into their area. Again, this is a precautionary measure to protect the babies in the unit.
Most NICUs will provide a visitation policy for you to sign. Remember, every NICU is different, so each is bound to have their own unique visitation rules. If you have any further questions regarding specific guidelines, be sure to ask the nurse of your child, or the charge nurse if your nurse is not available.