Visiting a patient

Regular hospital visiting hours are:
Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Parents

Parents are encouraged to take part in their child’s care. You may stay overnight and sleep on the sofa in your child’s room for the duration of their stay at the Children’s.

Each in-patient floor has a family room for you and other family members to use while visiting your child. The rooms have a kitchenette, appliances, and lounge chairs. If you come to the hospital after 8:00 p.m., Security staff will ask you for identification. This is done for the safety of all hospitalized children to make sure only staff, patients and parents are in the hospital overnight.

If you or other family members from out of town need a place to stay, Social Services (ext. 24455) can provide information about hotels near the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Do you have a cold or the sniffles?

Parents, family members and friends should not visit the hospital if they are suffering from a cold, flu, any other viruses, or if they have been in contact with any infectious diseases such as chicken pox or measles.

If you are not feeling well, please postpone your visit until you feel better.

FAMILY PRESENCE POLICY

Presence of families of hospitalized children (inpatients):

  • A maximum of three (3) visitors (including parents) are permitted to be at the bedside at the same time.
  • Two (2) family members are permitted at the bedside without parental presence, if parents consent to it. All information concerning your child is confidential and will only be given to you.
  • Two (2) parents can stay overnight (CPAP and BiPAP not permitted). However, please note that there is only one sleeping surface for a visitor in each patient room. It is not possible to sleep in the child's bed.
  • Children (siblings) who are not sick or exposed to a contagious illness are permitted to visit on most units, with some exceptions:
    • Hematology-oncology-transplant: children under three years old are not permitted. Siblings three years old and over can visit as long as they are fully vaccinated according to the vaccination calendar. 
    • Neonatal intensive care (NICU): children under three years old not are permitted as they are more likely to have a contagious disease that can be harmful to a baby. Rest assured that the NICU team can help find ways to include them in your baby's life.
    • Child psychiatry: children under 12 years old are not permitted.
  • Certain exceptions may apply; we invite you to confirm with the unit.
  • Please keep your child close to you. Siblings must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Children coming to the Emergency Department: 

  • Due to limited space in our waiting rooms and to ensure social distancing, we ask that you limit yourself to one accompanying person per child registered to see a physician. Please avoid bringing siblings.

Children coming for a clinic, a test or a treatment: 

  • Two (2) parents or caregivers may be present.
  • Siblings of the patient are not permitted.
  • If you or your child are feeling unwell prior to an appointment, please let us know. We will take extra precautions by seeing you in a clinic space away from other patients or we will reschedule your appointment at a time when you or your child are feeling better. You will not be placed at the bottom of the waitlist.