ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Neonatal intensive care unit

A neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU for short, is a special kind of hospital room for babies who are born early or have medical problems.

Sometimes babies are born before they are ready to come out of their mommy's tummy, and they need extra help breathing, eating, and growing. Other times, babies are born with medical problems that need special care right away.

The NICU is a special room where these babies can get the help they need. The room is set up to be quiet and calm, so that the babies can rest and grow. The babies stay in little beds called incubators, which help keep them warm and safe.

There are lots of special people who work in the NICU to take care of the babies. Doctors, nurses, and other helpers are there to make sure the babies are getting the right medicine and are eating enough. Sometimes, the babies need extra help breathing, so they might wear a mask or a tube to help them get enough air.

Parents can visit their babies in the NICU, but they might have to wear special clothes to keep everything clean and germ-free. Sometimes, parents can even hold their babies and talk to them, which can help the babies feel better.

The NICU is like a special hospital room for tiny babies who need extra love and care. The doctors and nurses work hard to help the babies grow and get healthy, so that they can go home and be with their families.