Visitor Information | Overview
We encourage friends and family to visit, but please ask visitors to be considerate of other patients and staff, especially in regard to noise.
Friends and family members who have been exposed to any contagious illnesses, such as a cold or chickenpox, should not visit the hospital.
All visitors to an inpatient unit, including patient parents and legal guardians, must obtain and wear a visitor ID badge at all times while at Boston Children's.
Parents and guardians are welcome to stay in the hospital 24 hours a day, although there is room for only one parent to sleep overnight.
Brothers, sisters, friends, and other relatives may visit every day between noon and 8 p.m. Only parents or guardians are allowed to visit the hospital after 8 p.m., with some exceptions.
Please notify staff on the unit in advance when arranging for entertainers or special guests. Visitors may not bring electrical appliances into the hospital.
All visitors to an inpatient unit or a secure area of the hospital, including patient parents and legal guardians, must obtain and wear a visitor ID badge at all times while on the Boston Children's campus.
- To accommodate parents and guardians who may be arriving at different hours from the visiting hours, visitor ID badges are available at the Information Desk in the main lobby from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Family members, visitors, and parents/guardians must show a government-issued ID (e.g., a driver’s license) to receive a visitor ID. Minors accompanied by an adult are not required to present an ID.
Please check with the unit for guidance about the number of visitors who may visit a patient at one time.
When visiting a patient in an intensive care unit (ICU), please do not bring food, fresh flowers, or plants (silk flowers, photos, and cards are acceptable). Space for personal items is limited in the ICUs.
The intensive care units (ICUs) promote a quiet environment 24 hours a day. Please respect the needs of others for a calm and quiet atmosphere in the ICUs.
To create the right environment for rest and recovery, our inpatient units practice quiet hours each afternoon and overnight. The intensive care units (ICUs) promote a quiet environment 24 hours a day.
During quiet hours, noise is kept to a minimum. This encourages the peace and quiet patients need for resting, sleeping, reading, or simply enjoying time with their families. Playrooms stay open during quiet hours and patients and families still have access to the same resources, but we ask that you:
- Be mindful any neighbors, both in the room and in the halls
- Turn down the TV volume
- Set cell phones on vibrate
- Consider using headphones
- Consider using unit family rooms for phone calls or step to the back of the room
- Turn down the volume of video calls
Please ask any nurse on the unit for more information.
Gifts and mail can help brighten a hospital stay. Patients can receive mail while at the hospital. Ask a member of your care team for the exact mailing address.
Please note: Cards, letters, toys, games, and Mylar balloons for patients are welcomed in the hospital. Before sending flowers or plants, please check with the unit first, as some units may not have live plants or flowers for the safety of our patients. Latex balloons are not allowed anywhere in the hospital.
Boston Children's is a tobacco-, alcohol-, and drug-free institution. Smoking, vaping, or use of tobacco products, illegal drugs, marijuana, or alcohol are not permitted at any Boston Children's location.
Weapons, including firearms and knives, are not allowed on hospital grounds. If you are legally authorized to carry a weapon, please contact the Security Office at 617-355-6121 before coming to the hospital to arrange to have it secured when you arrive. The Security Office will hold your weapon while you are visiting the hospital; you may claim it when you leave.
Since many people go into and out of the hospital at all hours, theft is a concern. Please leave all valuables at home, including expensive clothing, electronic equipment, large sums of money, and valuable jewelry. If you do bring items of value, keep them locked up at all times. Each patient room includes a small storage safe.
For safety reasons, Boston Children’s recommends that you do not walk alone outdoors at night. Please call security if you need an escort.
Boston Children’s staff works hard to make the hospital a safe and comfortable place. Security personnel are available to help you and answer your questions at all times of the day and night.
Contact security
Security Office
Location: Blackfan Garage
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 617-355-7455
Emergency Security Assistance (24 hours): 617-355-6121