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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit  (NICU)

As the only Level 4 NICU in the state, we provide the highest level of NICU care available. We're here when your child deserves world-class medical treatment.

Best Children's Hospitals - US News & World Report - NeonatologyAt the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), our 104-bed NICU is equipped and staffed to deliver a full range of medical care services. From at-risk infants to critically ill neonates throughout the state, the NICU at Arkansas Children's has been the preferred choice in intensive care for parents, expectant mothers, and infants throughout Arkansas.

NICU Visitor Policy

Visitation Update: Effective April 11, 2025

To protect the health and safety of our patients, NICU visitation is currently limited to two parents or primary caregivers.
 
At this time, siblings are not permitted in the NICU due to extra safety precautions.
 
Given the increased risk of infection to babies in the NICU, visitors will be asked not to visit, if they have had any nausea, vomiting, fever, sore throat, coughing, runny nose, or any other symptoms of illness within the last 24 hours.

View visitation guidelines

Though most parents and their precious young ones do not need around-the-clock consultation services, most patients and their families are extremely comforted by the fact that we are here at any time.

Comprehensive neonatal clinical services are available and include: 

  • 24/7 Neonatology and NNP coverage
  • Advanced pharmacologic and nutritional support
  • High-frequency ventilation
  • Nitric oxide therapy
  • Pediatric subspecialty services (Genetics, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedics and more)
  • Surgical services (Cardiovascular, ENT, Neurosurgery)
  • Total Body Cooling

We are here not only to care for your precious baby but also for you and your entire family. Our goal is for you to participate in your baby's care during the entire hospital stay so that you feel comfortable when it is time for you and your family to take your baby home. We also have a special place for you to rest in the NICU Family House.

    In the Family House you will find:

  • A Family Services Assistants
  • Chair beds, lockers and showers
  • Two sleeping spaces for parents/guardians/grandparents as space allows
  • A laundry area and kitchenette for families and friends

    Neonatologists are actively engaged in several areas of research including the following:

  • Comprehensive medical management of complex NICU graduates
  • Effect of infant nutrition and nutritional supplementation on growth and development and subsequent brain function
  • Neonatal ventilation
  • Pain control in neonates
  • Refinement of discharge planning and long-term follow-up as well
  • Selective head/body cooling after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
  • Stem cell differentiation/developmental biology

Expectant Parent Resources

The Arkansas Children’s expectant parent pages will help you find neonatal intensive care resources, research study opportunities with the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, what to expect during the first month of a baby’s life and much more.

View expectant parent information

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