Staying at Children's Hospital

• Checking in
• Dining and food service
• Visiting hours and overnight stays
• Special programs and services

Checking in

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Identification bands for patients
Upon arrival, an identification band will be placed on your child. Our staff is required to use that band to verify your child's identity before all procedures, including giving medication, giving blood or performing lab draws. This is an important safety check to ensure your child receives the correct treatment.

Identification badges for parent/grandparent/guardian
Identification badges must be worn at all times by family members and visitors on floors 3 through 8. A parent/grandparent/guardian badge will be given only to those adults who are directly responsible for the patient. A visitor badge will be given to every other person visiting a patient. Badges are available at any of the Welcome Centers or at any nurses' station. Badges are to be worn at all times and should be turned in at the Welcome Centers or placed in a drop box located at exit points when your child's hospital stay is over.

Visitor passes
Identification badges are required 24 hours a day on floors 3 through 8. All visitors/family members should request identification badges at the Welcome Center on the second floor of the hospital off the elevator. An information desk also is located on the second floor of the Clinics Building. Hospital volunteers can assist you with directions and information.

Infection control
Infectious diseases can be carried into a hospital from the outside. Therefore, we ask that you do not pick up, hold, feed or play with any child in the hospital but your own. You can cause harm to other patients or to yourself. These guidelines will help protect you and children you have at home from illness, and protect other children in the hospital from accidental injury or illness.

If any family member has a cold, runny nose, cough, fever, diarrhea, rash or other infectious disease, please do not allow that  person to visit the hospital. If any family members have been exposed to measles or chicken pox within the past 21 days, and never had it before, please do not allow them to visit. Be sure all children visiting are up-to-date on their immunizations.

Dining and food service

Food for your child
Children's Hospital has room service for patients. Children may order any item off the menu (based on their doctor's order) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. There is no charge for room service. Your child's food order will be delivered to his or her room within 45 minutes.

Parents may leave a recorded message between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to order their child's meals for the following day. Some food items may not be allowed if a doctor has restricted your child's diet. If you have any questions about your child's meals, ask to see a dietitian.

We do not automatically send food trays to patient rooms. However, we do check on children after each meal to make sure they have placed an order. Please do not give your child any food without consulting your child's nurse.

Parent meal trays
Parent Room Service meals can be ordered by going to any of the Children's Hospital dining areas. Boxed meals are $4 each and meals selected from the room service menu are $6 each. Parents may contact Nutritional Services directly at (414) 266-3663 to order a meal for delivery. Payment for these meals is by cash only.

Deli
The deli is located on the second floor of the Clinics Building, just off the skywalk. The deli offers a variety of hot and cold selections, including sandwiches and salads. All items are to go. Seating is available behind the deli. Call (414) 266-6132 for a list of menu items and hours.

Dining room
The dining room is located on the lower level of the hospital. Hours are:

• Breakfast: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. (weekdays)
• Continental breakfast: 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. (weekdays)
• Lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Limited lunch: 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Dinner: 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Call (414) 266-2227 for daily dining room specials. Weekly menus are posted outside the dining room.

Wearing your parent/grandparent/guardian identification badge will give you a 20 percent discount in the deli and the dining room.

Vending machines
Vending machines are located throughout the facility.

Visiting hours and overnight stays

Children's Hospital recognizes that family and friends are beneficial in creating a home-like and therapeutic environment, while maintaining each patient's right to privacy, confidentiality and security.

Visiting hours
Parents, grandparents and legal guardians may visit children at any time. Visiting hours for all others are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please check with your child's nurse before inviting visitors. You may be asked to limit the number of visitors. Siblings and other children are welcome during visiting hours only if they are accompanied by an adult.

Overnight stays

In the hospital – A single sleeper couch is available in most patient rooms for one parent or grandparent to stay. Please let your child's nurse know if you wish to stay overnight. You will be asked to wear appropriate sleep attire, such as pajamas or sweats that cover your whole body. If needed, parent sleepwear is available and can be requested from your child's care provider. The hospital will provide linens and a pillow. You will need to bring your own toiletries. Siblings and other minor children are not allowed to stay overnight.

We encourage parents to stay with their child in the hospital, but for safety reasons, we discourage parents from having their child sleep with them on the parent bed.

Several sleeping rooms are available for parents of children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Rooms can be reserved on a daily basis. Please ask your child's nurse about the rooms if you wish to stay overnight. Please ask your child's nurse about accessible showers during your stay.

Ronald McDonald House – Overnight accommodations are available for families of children receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment at Milwaukee area hospitals. If a family needs to stay at Ronald McDonald House while their child is being seen on an ongoing outpatient basis, they must complete a form signed by the attending physician stating that the patient needs to be close to the hospital. Please contact Family Services at (414) 266-2800 to make arrangements. When the office is closed, have your child's nurse contact the house for arrangements.

If you have stayed at Ronald McDonald House within the last two years, you may call (414) 475-5333 to be placed on the waiting list.

Hotels and motels – A list of nearby hotels and motels is available from The Daniel M. Soref Family Resource Center located at Children's Hospital. Many of them offer discounts to parents of Children's Hospital patients. Contact Family Accommodations at (414) 266-2800 to assist with these arrangements.

Special programs and services

• Family Accommodations Program.
• Adolescent programs.
• Breastfeeding/lactation services.
• Clowns for Children's Hospital.
• Interpreter Services.
• Kohl's Child Life Program.
• Spiritual Care Program.
• Playrooms.
• School Program.
• The Daniel M. Soref Family Resource Center.
• Volunteer services.
• Bereavement Program.
• Pre-admission Program.
• Gift Shop.
• Send a card to a patient.