Hospitalized children suddenly find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. Having the comfort and support of family and friends while in the hospital can improve our young patients’ mood and outlook. At The Woman’s Hospital of Texas Pediatric Center, we recognize the important role visiting family and friends can play in the healing and recovery of our patients.

Visiting guidelines

We promote family-centered care at the Pediatric Center and we feel visits from family and friends can be helpful in raising a child's spirits. If you have questions about visiting a child in our facility, please speak to your care team as exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.

  • Family members are welcome to visit patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; we encourage one parent to stay with your child at all times; all other visitors can be named at the family's discretion
  • Most children sleep better knowing a loved one is near; we encourage one adult to stay overnight in the hospital with their child
  • Please keep in mind that our patients need their rest so visitation to patient rooms is limited to a small number of visitors
  • Space is limited in patient areas for storage of personal items; please leave all valuables at home
  • An adult must accompany and supervise visitors under the age of 12 at all times
  • Mylar balloons are permitted, but due to potentially severe latex allergies in some of our patients, latex balloons (or anything latex) are not allowed
  • Flowers and live plants may not be appropriate for a patient due to certain sensitive medical conditions; please check with the patient’s family or the unit nurse before bringing or sending these items
  • Due to patient allergies and possible dietary restrictions, please do not bring food into the unit for a patient without prior approval from the unit nurse
  • In order to provide a safe environment for our patients, we ask that visitors older than 14 years old who are ill, particularly those with communicable diseases like flu, refrain from visiting until fully recovered
  • Cell phones are permitted in most areas of the hospital and emergency room, but some areas prohibit cell phone usage due to possible equipment interference
  • Free Wi-Fi is available in most areas of our hospital
  • Some patient care areas, such as the PICU and NICU may have unique visitation hours and restrictions; please contact the unit nurse for further information if you are visiting these areas

Patient visitation rights

At The Woman's Hospital of Texas Pediatric Center we adopt and affirm as policy the following rights of patients and clients who receive services from our facilities:

  • To be informed of their visitation rights, including any clinical restriction or limitation of their visitation rights
  • To designate visitors, including but not limited to a spouse, a domestic partner (including same sex), family members and friends. These visitors will not be restricted or otherwise denied visitation privileges on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or disability. All visitors will enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with any clinically necessary or other reasonable restriction or limitation that facilities may need to place on such rights
  • To receive visits from your attorney, physician or clergyman at any reasonable time
  • To speak privately with anyone he/she wishes (subject to hospital visiting regulations) unless a doctor does not think it is medically advised
  • To refuse visitors
  • Media representatives and photographers must contact the hospital spokesperson for access to the hospital