Single Family Rooms for the NICU: Pros, Cons and the Way Forward

Single family rooms (SFRs) have been embraced by many as essential to the design of a modern NICU. It is generally accepted that they reduce the risk of nosocomial infection, facilitate individualized and developmentally appropriate levels of sensory input for infants and enhance parental comfort and privacy. Most centers that have adopted SFRs report that staff and families view the shift positively. However, there are some potential concerns with exclusive use of SFRs, most important being the possible negative impact of an environment devoid of important sensory inputs on the developing preterm neonate. Family members and staff can also be negatively affected by feelings of isolation. In this article, we explore the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of SFRs in the NICU and provide suggestions to help mitigate the possible negative effects on infants, families and staff.