Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)


Children's Wisconsin offers state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in two locations: Milwaukee and Neenah, Wis.

  • Our Milwaukee NICU is a state-of-the-art, Level IV, 70-bed unit with all private rooms, and it's the only one in the state co-located with a birth center. We care for more than 750 infants with various health problems every year.
  • Our Fox Valley NICU is a Level III, 22-bed unit. The staff provides critical care to premature and critically ill infants in Northeast Wisconsin.

Why choose Children's NICU for your child's neonatal care?

Largest level IV NICU in the state of Wisconsin

Coordination and proximity of neonatal care

  • Only level IV NICU in WI located within the same hospital as a high-risk birth center
  • Fetal Concerns Center coordinates all the care a pregnant mother needs if she or her infant are at high risk or have a known problem. The team also performs fetal surgery to treat various conditions while the baby is still in the womb.
  • All-encompassing team approach including nutrition, feeding and speech team, physical and occupational therapy services
  • Devoted to family-centered care, with family friendly support, parent participation in rounds, education sessions, breastfeeding assistance, a focus on bonding and kangaroo care
  • Continuity of care from admission to discharge

All the top neonatal specialists your child could need

  • Team approach to specialty care from all areas of pediatric medicine including cardiology, surgery, pulmonary, GI, genetics and neurosciences
  • Recognized as a Level I Children's Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons
  • All specialist physicians are linked with outpatient clinics for seamless transition of care after discharge
  • Highly trained and competent nursing staff many with specialty certification

Commitment to exceptional quality and health outcomes

  • High survival rates as compared to other NICUs
  • Our Milwaukee and Fox Valley hospitals have both earned Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which is awarded for demonstrating sustained superiority in nursing care
  • Our Milwaukee NICU and Fox Valley NICU are members of the Vermont Oxford Network, which allows us to share data to improve the quality and safety of medical care for newborns
  • Our Milwaukee NICU is a member of the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium, which is dedicated to improving care and outcomes for infants in Children's Wisconsins' Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) through sharing of data, information, and ideas for benchmarking, research and development of safety and quality improvement initiatives

Monitoring and follow-up boost health outcomes

Children’s Wisconsin provides follow-up care for babies after discharge who need special care after birth, are at risk for developmental delays or have ongoing medical problems.

Second opinions welcome

  • Second opinions help parents confirm that recommended treatment is right for their child. They also can surface other options to explore – even if treatment is already underway. Request a second opinion by calling (414) 266-8508.

Superior support for traveling families

  • For families from out of the area, we're here to help so that getting the care you need is as comfortable and convenient as possible. Our Access Center helps families coordinate all aspects of their visits to Children's.
NICU patient stories

Noah at Children's Wisconsin PICU

Read stories about patients and families in our NICU.