UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital

Family and Visitor Guidelines

UCLA Health recognizes the vital role family and friends play in enhancing the health and well-being of our patients. Parents/legal guardians and close family members may visit 24 hours a day unless otherwise specified by a unit’s individual guidelines or your child’s care team.

The well-being of our patients is the most important consideration when making decisions regarding visitors and visiting hours. The number of visitors allowed will depend on the needs of the patient and space considerations.

General visitor guidelines

  • All visitors must register with one of the information desks on the first floor to receive an official visitor badge.
  • Visitors must call to request entry into the unit.
  • Waiting rooms are available immediately outside the unit for our guests’ comfort while waiting to enter the unit.
  • Visitors under 18 years old must be supervised by an adult family member at all times. No visitors under 3 years old are permitted in the NICU.
  • Your family’s clergy may visit, with your permission, at any time.
  • For safety reasons, visitors are not allowed to sit in chairs with wheels. We provide comfortable chairs without wheels in each patient’s room.
  • Visitors must allow staff clear access to the patient and equipment at all times.
  • Visitors must be courteous and respectful to all staff members, patients and other visitors. Threats, violence, disrespectful communication and harassment will not be tolerated. Abusive or disrespectful behavior could result in a visitor being barred from visitation or dismissal from UCLA Health.
  • Visitors are welcome if they have no cold or flu symptoms (such as a fever, runny nose or cough). Parents/legal guardians that intend to stay with their child in the hospital must also be free of illness.
  • With the exception of service dogs and UCLA pet-therapy dogs, no animals are permitted in the hospital.

UCLA Child Life Specialists — health care professionals who help pediatric patients cope with illness and hospitalization — are also available to help prepare children for visits with hospitalized family members.

Balloons

Mylar balloons are safe and allowed in patient rooms. Latex balloons present choking and allergy risks and are not allowed in the hospital. No balloons of any kind are permitted in the NICU.

Live plants

No live plants are permitted in the NICU. Live plants may be restricted in other units based on your child’s medical condition.