Practical recommendations on room sizes for hospitalised newborn infants and their families based on a systematic review of the literature

Aim Neonatal unit design may affect the neurodevelopment of hospitalised neonates and the well-being of parents and healthcare staff (HCS). We aimed to provide recommendations regarding the minimum area required for a hospital room for a single neonate and their family. Methods We searched PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published from 1 January 2011 to 1 May 2021 by using the keywords NICU and facility design. Recommendations were developed after internal and external review by a multidisciplinary group including 15 professionals and parent representatives. Results We identified 314 studies and developed six recommendations from four eligible studies. Recommendations for room size were developed according to three perspectives: opinions of users, who emphasised the need for a spacious room; proposals of organisations by HCS, which advocated for a minimum floor area of 11.2-18 m(2) in a single non-family room and 15.3-24 m(2) in a single-family room; and simulation methods indicating that the minimum floor area in the neonatal unit should be 18.5-24 m(2). Conclusion Units need to provide a minimum room size to allow for optimal newborn development and a better experience for parents and caregivers.