We understand that coming to the hospital can be an overwhelming and confusing experience for a child and his or her family. 

Our pediatric hospital medicine providers and pediatric nursing team will do everything we can to make your time here as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Visitation

• Parents may visit 24 hours a day. Other visitors are welcome 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Overnight accommodations are available for only one parent.
• Siblings must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
• Visitors should be free of infection or illness and should not have experienced symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, skin rash, vomiting or diarrhea within the 48 hours prior to a visit.
• If flu restrictions are in place, no visitors under 18 years of age or sick visitors are permitted on the unit. Please understand this is for your own safety and the safety of our youngest patients.

See Englewood Hospital’s Visiting Hours and Policies for more detailed information on visiting.

Caring for Your Child

Vital Signs

We will check your child’s vital signs at least every four hours, depending on your child’s diagnosis or status, including temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and pain levels.

Measuring Intake and Output

We encourage all parents or caregivers to be active members of your child’s care team.  For example, we need to record everything your child eats and drinks. You can help us measure your child’s intake and output by doing the following:

• Please save all diapers and inform the staff of your child’s trips to the restroom.
• Please track your child’s intake of food and drink with each meal.
• If breastfeeding, please report the time and length of each feeding.

Hospital Food Services

When your child is admitted to the hospital, our Food and Nutrition Department will send a menu to your room. Please make your selections and return the sheet to your nurse. Three meals will be provided daily. 

If you have any questions about the selections, please contact the Food and Nutrition Department at 201-894-3097.

In addition to providing meals for your child, two complimentary meals for parents or caregivers are provided during each mealtime. Meals are not included for siblings. Visitors and other family members are welcome to dine at our Drapkin Family Café, which is located on the main floor.

Recreational Activities & Playroom

We understand the importance of play for children who are staying in the hospital. Play can introduce a sense of normalcy to your child, and may improve feelings of anxiety, stress, and confusion.

Our child life program offers a range of activities that will give your child an important opportunity to relax and have fun. Our unit includes a playroom that is with equipped with activities for all age ranges, including 

• Wii fun centers
• DVDs
• Board games
• Arts and crafts
• Toys, books, and more 

You are welcome to take any toy or book from the playroom and into your child’s room. Those items will stay with your child until discharge, at which point they will be cleaned and returned to the playroom. 

Children who are in isolation or have symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose, or frequent coughing are not permitted in the playroom.