We welcome up to four of your family or friends to receive a partner badge and be with you in the NICU. Partners holding a badge must be at least 18 years old.
Staying in Your Baby’s Room
Two partners with a badge are invited to stay with their baby overnight. We cannot support an overnight stay in the NICU for anyone under 18 years of age. A couch for one person and a sleep chair for the other are provided for your comfort. Please refrain from two people sharing the couch when sleeping.
The curtain for the family area in the room may be closed for breastfeeding/pumping privacy but should remain open if more than one person is sleeping in the family area. You may request linens from your baby’s nurse. These should be stored in the drawers beneath the sofa, and the bed returned to its couch position by 8:00 AM each morning.
Appropriate sleeping attire must be worn when staying overnight. Except for sleeping and showering, shoes must be worn in the unit at all times.
Families with Older Siblings
In 2020, UAMS opened the Ronald McDonald Family Room for our NICU families. It can accommodate overnight stays by families with older children and can be used by all NICU families as a common area during the day.
Home for Healing
The Home for Healing (formerly the Family Home) is dedicated to providing affordable lodging in a home-like setting for cancer patients and parents of premature infants, as well as providing a cancer support center where education, fellowship and nurturing can take place in a supportive atmosphere.
The Home for Healing is located right across the street (walking distance) from UAMS. Talk with your baby’s social worker if you are interested in staying at the Home for Healing. Click here to learn more!