Hospital Amenities & Services
Bottle and Breastfeeding
We supply all bottles and formula. If you are a breastfeeding mom, lactation services are available by a Board Certified Lactation Consultant. If you have breastfeeding questions or would like assistance, please call extension 35427, or (559) 353-5427 from outside the hospital.
Your nurse will want to keep track of the amount your child eats and drinks. If you are a breastfeeding mom please let your nurse know how often and how long your baby feeds. Check with your nurse before bringing in food.
Diapers
While in the hospital we will supply all diapers. When you change your baby, please do not throw the diaper in the trash. Your baby’s nurse needs to weigh it to monitor your baby’s urine and stool output. It is important to know not only what you child takes in, but their output, as well.
Child Life Services
Child Life Specialists collaborate with hospital staff to help meet the emotional, social, developmental and educational needs of hospitalized children.
Child Life Services include:
- Illness and hospital education
- Surgery and procedure preparation
- Medical play
- Age-appropriate play
- Bedside activities
Click here to learn more about Child Life services.
Child Life Playroom
The Playroom (located on the Garden Level) helps children do what they do best: play! In the Playroom – away from medical tests and procedures – children can enjoy arts, crafts, music, games, reading, movies and video games. The Playroom also hosts events like Bingo, holiday events, music programs, as well as special guests and celebrity characters. Bedside activities and movies are available to children unable to come to the Playroom.
Playroom Hours (7 days a week)
Contact:
Child Life Services
(559) 353-5444
E-mail Child Life
Outdoor Playground
Valley Children’s patients and families have access to a state-of-the-art playground, complete with a putting green, interactive sound experience and inclusive equipment. Located outside on the south end of campus, kids can indulge in all of the physical benefits of our outdoor play system such as exercising their flexibility, balance, motors skills and more! This is one part of our commitment to providing a safe, healing and joyful experience for our patients and families.
George's Clubhouse
Children are encouraged to visit the George’s Clubhouse (located on the Garden Level) while being treated at Valley Children’s Hospital. The Clubhouse has activities, arts and crafts and video games to provide kids opportunities to play while in the hospital.
Classroom Hours (Monday-Friday)
Golden Valley Unified School District
A child’s education does not have to stop because a child is hospitalized. School is a routine that kids are used to. It’s one way to provide something normal during a hospital stay. For children who are scheduled to be here for more than 10 days, a Golden Valley Unified School District teacher can be assigned to provide grade appropriate instruction.
Contact:
Educational Learning Center
(559) 353-5445
Child Life Services
(559) 353-5444
child_life@valleychildrens.org
Chapel
The Chapel is a quiet place for prayer or meditation. It is open 24-hours, seven days a week. The Chapel is located at the East end of the first level of the hospital. Spiritual and Chaplain Services are also available to patients and their families.
Patient & Family Education
A variety of classes are offered to assist parents and families with learning how to meet their children’s needs. You can ask your nurse or call Clinical Education and Informatics for more information.
Contact:
Clinical Education and Informatics
(559) 353-5902
Wireless Internet Access
Patients, family members and friends can access the Internet for free while at Valley Children’s Hospital using their personal laptop computer. To begin your Internet session, open an Internet browser, read and agree to the Acceptable Use Policy and then your Internet session will begin.
Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center is a health information center for parents and families. The Center is a place where families can build knowledge and confidence in the care of their child. Computer access is available.
Parents looking for more information about their child's condition or illness can call extension 36170 or (559) 353-6170 from outside the Hospital. The Resource Center is located in the Medical Library on the Garden Level at the east end of the Hospital.
Parent Partners
Parent Partners is a service offering parents of critically or chronically ill children an opportunity to communicate with parents who have gone through similar situations with their children. Children's Hospital Parent Partner services are coordinated by Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU).
Volunteers work with the Family Resource Center and link families with peer support organizations and services in their local community. If you would like more information about this service or would like a parent to contact you please call EPU at (559) 229-2000.
Ethics Committee
Sometimes when your child is ill, you and the medical team may be faced with difficult choices regarding appropriate care. When this occurs, the family or anyone on the medical team can ask for a confidential consultation with the Ethics committee. This Committee helps everyone think about the next step in a child’s care. You can contact the Ethics committee by calling extension 36115, or (559) 353-6115 from outside the hospital. Be sure to leave a telephone number where you can be reached and the Chairman of the Ethics Committee will contact you within 24 hours.
Contact the Ethics Committee:
(559) 353-6115