Neonatology
Level IV NICU

We’re here to support babies with serious health conditions that require advanced intervention, such as surgery or complex medical treatments, and to support your family through the difficulties of managing your newborn baby’s health. With services such as neonatologists on-site 24/7, the highest level of respiratory support, advanced imaging, pediatric surgery and anesthesiology, and virtually every specialist your baby might need, we pride ourselves in turning almost no one away.

NICU at Texas Children's Hospital

Our Level 4 NICU provides the highest level of care. In our Level 4 NICU we care for babies:

who are born prematurely
who are critically ill
who have birth defects

Our Level 2 NICU cares for babies who are healthier, bigger and may be ready to transition to home.

Not all NICUs are the same

As one of only two level IV NICUs in the Greater Houston area and beyond, Texas Children’s offers the highest level of neonatal intensive care available, providing world-class expertise, experience and cutting-edge technology to treat complex conditions affecting newborns. In fact, many area hospitals with less advanced Level III NICUs transfer their infants to Texas Children’s Newborn Center for the highest level of specialized care available.

Size and volume matters in a NICU because research shows that babies treated in hospitals with highly experienced staff who treat the most babies have better outcomes. That’s because no matter how complex a premature or sick a baby might be, our doctors, nurses and other neonatal and pediatric specialists have likely seen it and treated it before.

And being a Level IV means that Texas Children’s Newborn Center provides the most complex, most complete neonatal care available anywhere in the Houston region. Because our NICU is a part of Texas Children’s Hospital, leading physicians in virtually every pediatric subspecialty can visit your baby at the bedside, working with your baby’s neonatal medical team to provide the highest level of care.

Focused on your baby

Because these babies require intensive care around the clock, dedicated neonatologists, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists are on-site 24/7. A neonatal nurse is assigned to each baby, providing consistent, compassionate care.

At Texas Children’s, your baby will have the benefit of the latest advances in evidence-based treatments combined with extensive family support to help build early bonds, even for ill infants.

NICU Levels: What do they mean?

NICU levels are defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Level 4 – Highest level available, maintaining a full range of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists and pediatric anesthesiologists on-site
Level 3 – Provide sustained life support and prompt, readily available access to full range of pediatric subspecialists
Level 2 – Intensive care for sick and premature infants who need extra support
Level 1 – Regular nursery care available at most hospitals that deliver babies