Babies in the Le Bonheur NICU have needs that only can be handled with specialized treatment from our physicians.  Admission criteria of newborns into the Le Bonheur NICU are generally limited to babies who have never gone home and who are 3 months old and younger. 

Once treatment is received and your baby has met NICU discharge guidelines, we will prepare you to take your newborn home or back to your referring hospital.  Some infants may be transferred to another unit at Le Bonheur, such as the Special Care Unit (SCU) or Transitional Care Unit (TCU).  The SCU or TCU might be an option for babies still requiring care and feeding at the hospital but in a unit specializing in the care of newborns with less critical conditions.  Discharge guidelines include stable temperature, no new issues requiring care or monitoring, consistent weight gain, parental feeding in home environment and the infants ability to ride in a car seat or car bed.