Guidelines for Visiting a Pediatric Patient

Visitors are a vital part of a patient’s treatment and care. Please use the links below to learn guidelines for accompanying and visiting pediatric patients at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, based on care they are receiving.

What is the difference between a care partner and a visitor?

A care partner is any adult the patient/parent or legal guardian wishes to have at the patient’s side. The care partner may provide support and/or can be included in the patient’s care decisions, but may not override the legally authorized healthcare decision-maker (LAHD). Two care partners are welcome 24/7.

A visitor is anyone the patient/LAHD or parent/guardian chooses to have visit the patient. An adult patient, or parent/guardian of a pediatric patient, can identify anyone they desire as a visitor. Visitors are welcome during visiting hours, which are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on most units. Some specialty floors/areas may have additional guidelines. Please see unit staff for floor specific policies.

General Guidelines for All Visits

All care partners and visitors are required to check in upon entering a Johns Hopkins facility.

Space constraints may limit the number of care partners and visitors who may be present at one time.

Visitors may be restricted for other reasons, including but not limited to:

• Situations in which visitation could jeopardize the health and well-being of the patient, care partner, visitor or Johns Hopkins Medicine employee(s)
• To minimize the risk of infection
• To achieve patient goals of care 
• By court order, or the patient is in the care and custody of law enforcement

Inpatient and Emergency Room

Inpatient

• General care units on floors 9N, 9S, 10N, 10S, and 11S welcome up to four care partners or visitors (including siblings/minors) per patient and may be at the patient’s side at any one time, space permitting.
• Siblings are welcome to visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Please work with your care team to determine the length of sibling visit.
• Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult unless they are the parent of the patient.
• Additional care partners or visitors may be at the bedside under some circumstances (e.g., long-term hospitalization, family meeting, end-of-life visits, or patient/family request).

Inpatient - Overnight Stay 

• Up to two adult care partners or parents of any age may stay overnight, space permitting.
• Additional care partners may stay overnight under some circumstances. Examples include end-of-life visits, patient/family request.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

• Child Psychiatry welcomes up to two care partners between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. All other approved visitors, 18 years and older, are welcome between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. and between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Psychiatry area may have additional guidelines for visitation. If visiting, check with the department.)

Emergency Department

• Up to two care partners, or parents of any age, per patient at a time may be at the patient’s side, space permitting.
• Children under 18 must have adult supervision available.
• Patients with psychiatric or behavioral complaints are limited to visiting with care partners (including legal guardians) only.
• Additional care partners or visitors may be at the patient’s side under some circumstances (e.g., family meeting, end of life, patient/family request).

Intensive Care

Intensive Care

• PICU/PCICU welcomes up to three at the bedside and four on the floor. Whether care partners, siblings or visitors are at the bedside, on the unit, in the family area on unit, or in the Family Lounge outside of the guest elevators, the total is four (4).
• Siblings are welcome to visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Please work with your care team to determine the length of sibling visit.
• Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult unless they are the parent of the patient.
• Additional care partners or visitors may be at the bedside under some circumstances (e.g., long-term hospitalization, family meeting, end-of-life visits, or patient/family request).
• NICU welcomes up to two at the bedside and four on the floor. Whether care partners, siblings or visitors are at the bedside, on the unit, in the family area on unit, or in the Family Lounge outside of the guest elevators, the total is four (4).
• Siblings over the age of 3 are welcome to visit between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Siblings 13 years and older may visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Please work with your care team to determine the length of sibling visit.

Intensive Care - Overnight Stay 

• Up to two adult care partners or parents of any age may stay overnight, space permitting.
• Additional care partners may stay overnight under some circumstances. Examples include end-of-life visits, patient/family request.

Pre-Surgery

(perioperative areas may have additional guidelines for visitation. If visiting, check with the department.)

• The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) welcomes up to two care partners.
• Siblings under the age of 18 years are not permitted in the PACU.

Outpatient

• Up to two care partners or visitors (including siblings/minors) are welcome to accompany patients to appointments, space permitting.
• Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
• Radiology imaging, operating rooms, procedural areas: For safety reasons, care partners or visitors may not be permitted in exam/procedure rooms.