Do hospitals allow toddlers to stay the night with you?

Question

Would a 2 year old to stay the night at the hospital with you after you deliver? The father would be there too of course to take care of the toddler.

i wasn't tired at all with my first baby after i delivered. i was so excited i had alot of energy. i already know that you need rest and all that after you deliver and that every labor is different. i just want to know if they allow, that is all!

jeez why do you people still say stuff i already said i know about...man...

Answer 1

Our hospital allowed our 20 month old to stay with us after I delivered. My husband was there too. We left her with my mom the first night (which I am glad because it was a circus in my room all night the first night and no one got any sleep. My daughter would not have slept either. However,the 2nd night,she was traumatized by not having us at home. So, my husband insisted on bringing her in the room with us. No one even said anything. They did seem to disapprove (mostly because they probably thought we were silly to not just get a sitter), but it worked out just fine. She didn't sleep well, though. I think she would have been better off sleeping in her own bed with my mom there, and it would have been MUCH less stressful for me to only be worrying about my newborn & not both kids. I would have preferred that hubby just took her home for the night and left me at the hospital with the new baby, but he wasn't going to do that, so we compromised. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I would just ask the hospital and if they say no,tell them you don't have childcare for you toddler. What can they do really? Throw your toddler out? The worst they can do is tell your husband he will have to leave.

Answer 2

I am sure there are some hospitals that would allow it, however, I believe it is most commonly not permitted to have more than one overnight person with you in the room. Typically the sleeping arrangements for the support person are sparse at best and there would not likely be any place for your toddler to sleep. Just because you were not tired after delivering your first baby is no guarantee you won't be with your second delivery. The father's first concern in the hospital is to be a support person for his wife. Caring for a toddler while caring for a newborn and a wife will likely make him exhausted even if you are not. I have not personally heard of a toddler staying all night with mom in the hospital after the birth of a sibling, but it would be a question to ask during a hospital tour or make a call to the labor and delivery department. Many hospitals allow 24 hour visitation for one primary support person, but encourage everyone else to leave at a reasonable hour. Toddlers can become too tired, too hungry, too confined and cause some disruption. While you might not mind having your toddler in your room with you, other new moms may find it disruptive and disturbing to their own rest. I personally feel the brief hospital stay is a time to rest and bond with your newborn before heading home to a toddler. I am sure he would be happier with a close friend, trustworthy neighbor, or a relative.

Answer 3

Check with the hospital but really im sure you will be tired and not want your 2 yr old to be there. Take the time and be with the new born. Just have the 2 yr old come up to the hospital to see the baby. Its not like your going to be staying in the hospital for a month. Your two year old already had mommy time now you need to do the same the the new baby.

Answer 4

The hospital where I delivered my sons would allow only one person to stay with me, and that person had to be an adult. Children under 16 weren't allowed to visit without an adult with them, much less stay the night. :)

Children, especially toddlers, can get into SO much trouble in the middle of the night. Hospital rooms don't have locking doors, so can you imagine what would happen if you and your husband were soundly sleeping and your toddler got loose and escaped. Thankfully it's a hospital maternity ward that's (I hope!) locked, but still--he or she would be sure to scare some people and cause havoc on the maternity ward!

Answer 5

All you need to do is call the hospital's L&D department and ask. YOu may not want your toddler there if you have a difficult labor or a restless newborn. But, I also understand if you don't have someone to take care of him or some other circumstance. Every hospital's policy is different. The one I worked at would allow it as long as a spouse or other caregiver was present. Good luck !

Answer 6

Most hospitals won't allow a small child to even visit let alone stay the night with you. There are usually concerns over getting the new baby sick right away. If there are circumstances that make it impossible for you to find childcare at the time though I'm sure that the hospital will work with you to come up with a solution that is safe and healthy for all involved.

Answer 7

When my son was born, my daughter was 19 months old. The hospital where I delivered allowed her to sleep overnight with me, but you'll have to check with the hospital where you will be delivering. I think it might be different depending on the hospital.

Answer 8

My 22 mo old and 3 yr old have spent the night with their grandparents and they live 1.5 hours away. The 22 mo old has been twice and the 3 yr old has been numerous times - maybe once a month for the last year. As far as him getting hurt or sick, I totally trust my mother in handling my daughters for 1.5 hours if they are sick until I get there. They are only a phone call away......I'd never do it as much as once a week though. My hubby and I spend time together every evening after the kids go to bed.....

Answer 9

Call to find out. My husband was allowed to stay with me, but my other children went on vacation with their grandparents for two weeks every time I delivered so I never had them stay. I do know that I had my appendix out two weeks after my second son was born and the hospital was not thrilled at my keeping him there with me for three days but I did it anyways and they didn't say anything as long as he was quiet.

Answer 10

It depends on the hospital and it's policies. A quick call should clear that up for you. The whole point, though, is so you can get some rest and be waited on before you have to go home. I'd reconsider, if at all possible.