Visiting Information and Guidelines

At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, we know that family and friends are an important part of each patient’s healing experience. As part of our commitment to family-centered care, we welcome visitors and encourage families to spend as much time together as possible in our hospital.

In general, visiting hours for the hospital are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and quiet hours are 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Guidelines for visitors and visiting hours may vary by unit or be based on a patient’s medical needs and isolation protocols.

During respiratory illness season, Nov. 1 through March 31, some of our visitor policies change. Please review the below information by unit.

Masking during respiratory season

Masks are strongly recommended for staff, patients, and visitors during this time. Patients and families may also request that staff wear a mask when entering their room.

Parking

Visit Finding Your Way for information about parking and fees for visitors.

Checking in

Safety and the well-being of our patients is our top priority. Hospital visitors must check in before entering the hospital to receive an identification badge. It is part of our commitment to ensuring a safe environment at both the Main and West buildings of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

Health, safety, and hand hygiene

To maintain the healthiest environment possible and to avoid infection of patients, visitors are screened for contagious diseases. Please do not bring children to visit if they display signs of contagious diseases or recently have been exposed to measles or chickenpox.

If you notice anything unusual in or around the hospital, such as missing items, unbadged personnel, or suspicious persons or items, you should report your concerns to the Security Department by contacting (650) 723-7222.

The best way to prevent infection is to wash your hands often and well. All of us carry germs. To prevent these germs from harming you or your child, wash your hands with soap and use the alcohol hand sanitizer. Always clean your hands upon entering and before leaving any hospital room; before or after eating or feeding your child; after using the bathroom or changing a diaper; and after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.

Visitor guidelines by unit

The following is a list of units, along with the number of visitors allowed at one time during general visiting hours. Visitors not in the room can wait in lounges and waiting areas, not in the corridors. Visiting hours and guidelines may vary, depending on a patient’s health, and are at the discretion of clinical staff. Age restrictions do not apply to breastfeeding children. Newborns and breastfeeding children do not count toward the visitor limit. 

Families may switch visitors, provided no more than two caregivers or visitors are at the bedside at once. Caregivers and visitors must not have respiratory symptoms.

Labor and delivery and maternity

Expectant women delivering their babies in the Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services may have up to two visitors in their labor and delivery room at any time. New mothers may enjoy having family and friends visit them in the maternity unit from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

General care floors pediatric care unit—Up to two healthy people at the bedside at a time, PCU200, PCU300, PCU360, PCU380, PCU400, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit; no age restrictions.

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit/Same-day surgery—Up to two healthy people at the bedside at a time; 14 years of age and older are permitted.

PCU 500/520—Up to two healthy people at the bedside at a time; 12 years of age and older are permitted. Masking is required on this unit.

Stem cell transplant—Up to two healthy people at the bedside at a time; 12 years of age and older are permitted. Masking is required on this unit.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit/Intermediate Care Nursery—Up to two healthy people at the bedside at a time; 12 years of age or older are permitted. Exceptions may be considered based on individual circumstances and unit guidance. Please contact the patient’s care team with questions.

Clinics within the hospital—Up to two healthy people at a time.

Obstetric Clinic at 770 Welch Road, and Fertility and Reproductive Health Services – Sunnyvale at 1195 West Fremont Ave.—One person; children under the age of 12 are not permitted.

Perinatal diagnostic clinics—Up to two healthy people at a time.

General Information

Overnight stay

In the maternity unit and short stay unit, one adult primary support person may stay overnight.

In the pediatric general care units, two parents or legal guardians may stay in the room at the discretion of the nurse if the patient is in a private room. Otherwise, when possible, bedside sleeping facilities are provided for one parent or adult designee.

For parents who can’t sleep at the patient’s bedside, a social worker can assist with coordinating alternative sleeping arrangements. Parents who are assigned to sleep in a parent lounge should vacate with their belongings by 8:00 each morning.

Fire codes prohibit sleeping in alcoves, corridors, or open public areas.

ATM/bank machine

You can find ATM/bank machines in two locations:

1. In the Main building, on the first floor behind the Harvest Café in zone 150/105 near the vending machines.
2. In Stanford Health Care, on the first floor near the Emergency Department.

Using secure email

Some Stanford Medicine Children’s Health care providers and clinics may communicate with you via email. Emails sent from a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health care provider that contain Protected Health Information (PHI) like patient name, date of birth, and status or update on the patient’s health, etc., are sent through secure email.