Having a baby admitted to the newborn intensive care unit can be very stressful. We understand this is a difficult time for you and your family, and that this may not have been what you expected to happen after your baby’s birth. Please take comfort in knowing that your baby is in excellent hands, receiving care from a skilled and caring team.  

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of the best pediatric hospitals in the world. CHOP has been a leader in neonatal care for more than 60 years. We opened the first surgical neonatal intensive care unit in the United States in 1962. This unit, now known as the Harriet and Ronald Lassin Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit (N/IICU), is located on our Philadelphia Hospital Campus.  

We opened a second N/IICU within our Middleman Family Pavilion in King of Prussia, Pa., in 2023 to expand access to our best-in-class newborn care services. This N/IICU allows us to ensure the best possible outcome for even more patients in the greater Philadelphia area.  

Both CHOP N/IICUs have the technology and teams needed to provide the best care possible for very sick babies with health issues related to prematurity, birth defects, lung conditions, heart conditions, and other disorders. CHOP’s expert neonatologists, advanced practice providers and highly trained nurses staff both units around the clock.   

The information that follows is about the N/IICU on our Philadelphia Campus. Information about our N/IICU in King of Prussia can be found here.

About the N/IICU at Our Philadelphia Campus

There are four levels of care for intensive care units, based on the complexity of care they are able to provide. The N/IICU at our Philadelphia Campus is a Level IV unit. This means we are able to provide the highest level of care for the most critically ill and premature infants.   

This state-of-the-art, 100-bed unit treats more than 1,000 babies each year. As one of the top-ranked units in the nation, we use cutting-edge technology to provide the best care possible for very sick babies with health issues related to prematurity, birth defects, lung, heart and gastrointestinal conditions, and other disorders.  

We help children with complex conditions, including respiratory, surgical, cardiac, genetic, renal (kidney-related), neurological, hematological (blood-related) and metabolic diseases. We have cared for babies as young as 23 weeks’ gestation and as small as one pound at birth. 

We are a center of excellence for the management of infants with severe chronic lung disease of prematurity (also called bronchopulmonary dysplasia). We have special expertise in a form of heart-lung bypass called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our depth of experience has prepared our team for any and every medical condition present in newborns and infants. Our unit is one of the biggest and best in the world.  

Our N/IICU is a primary referral center for CHOP Newborn Care affiliate hospitals and other neonatal intensive care units in the region. Families travel here from around the country and the world for care for hyperinsulinism, severe lung disease and other conditions. 

The unit is located on the second floor of the main building on our Philadelphia Campus. If your baby has a heart problem, they typically will be admitted to the Evelyn and Daniel M. Tabas Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), which is located on the sixth floor of the main building’s south tower. 

The video below will help you and your family understand what to expect when your baby is admitted to the Harriet and Ronald Lassin Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit (N/IICU) at CHOP, and it will reassure you that your precious baby is being cared for by the best, most experienced team. 

Recognized for Excellence 

CHOP is always ranked among the best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Our neonatology program is also always ranked as one of the best. This is because our neonatologists are experts, we have many nurses available to care for each patient, and we have many different kinds of specialists available.    

A Focus on Safety 

Your baby's safety and security are our top priorities. We safeguard your baby using the following measures: 

• We place an identification band on your baby when they are admitted and it remains in place until discharge from the unit.
• We will give you a parent ID band to identify you as a parent.
• Anyone else visiting your baby will receive a visitor pass.
• CHOP employees wear identification badges so you can easily identify the staff caring for your baby. 

Open Lines of Communication 

We understand how important it is to stay connected with your loved ones during your time in the N/IICU. Parents are welcome to call 215-590-3083 at any time to receive updates about their baby.  

A camera called an “Angel Eye” is attached to your baby’s bed. It allows you and your family to “tune in” to a live feed of your baby using your cell phone, so you and your loved ones can see them remotely.    

Visiting the N/IICU

We work hard to make our N/IICU a comfortable place where babies can heal and parents can feel at ease and empowered. We make sure you and your family understand the medical devices your baby needs and why they need them, and we encourage parents to visit often and participate in decisions and discussions around their baby’s care.  

Parents and legal guardians are welcome to visit the N/IICU at any time. General visiting hours for friends and other family members are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. With the exception of your baby's siblings, all visitors must be 18 years or older. 

Info for Parents Visiting 

We encourage parents to spend as much time with their baby as they would like. When you arrive, please stop at the clerk’s window so they can let your nurse know. We offer limited sleeping arrangements for parents, so if you plan to stay overnight, please ask your nurse for help in making arrangements.  

Please wash your hands and forearms with warm water and soap for two minutes as soon as you enter your baby’s room. Cover gowns are available, but they are not required. If you have a cold, we may ask you to wear a face mask (in addition to washing your hands carefully) to help protect your baby from illness. If you have been exposed to any contagious diseases like measles, chickenpox or tuberculosis, please speak with a nurse before visiting to ensure the safety of all patients. 

Info for Siblings and Other Family Members Visiting

We understand how important it is for siblings and family members to visit. If you would like your baby’s brothers and sisters to come, please speak with your baby’s nurse or the charge nurse to arrange the visit. We want to make sure the visit works with the unit’s activity level and that your child won’t pose any infection risk to the babies. Please note, only brothers and sisters are allowed to visit — no other children, for safety reasons. An adult family member must supervise visiting children at all times.   

For other family members who want to visit, please work with your baby’s nurse to plan a good time. We kindly ask that family members with a cold, fever or diarrhea wait until they’re feeling better to visit. Anyone who has been exposed to a contagious illness (like chickenpox, measles or tuberculosis) should speak with a nurse first to make sure they’re not putting other patients at risk. 

All visitors — siblings and family members — must wash their hands and forearms up to the elbows with warm water and soap for two minutes as soon as they enter your baby’s room. Cover gowns are available, but they’re not required.  

To keep things calm for the babies, we allow only two visitors per patient at a time past the security doors. Once inside, we ask that visitors stay at your baby’s bedside for infection control and privacy reasons. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. 

Parking

Parent parking is available in the Garage of the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care (Garage B). When traveling east on Civic Center Boulevard, pass the Main Hospital Building then turn left into Driveway B for Garage B. 

Get more information on parking options for parents and visitors. 

Meet the Team 

CHOP’s Neonatology program is consistently ranked among the best in the nation. Every person on your baby's team has the same goal: to give your child the best possible care. We provide expert care and support your family in any way you need.  

Your baby’s N/IICU team includes a senior neonatologist, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, residents and fellows, specially trained nurses, a nurse case manager, dieticians, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists. 

Meet our entire team > 

Contact Us  

Your nurse will share a unit handbook with you when you arrive to answer some of your questions about visitors, how to keep in touch with family, where to sleep and eat, and unit routines. We welcome you to approach any member of our staff for further guidance and information at any time. We look forward to partnering with you to provide exceptional care during your baby’s stay. 

Harriet and Ronald Lassin Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit (N/IICU)
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Second Floor, Main Building
3401 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-3083