Common NICU equipment

What equipment is commonly used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

Your baby’s healthcare providers in the NICU may use different equipment to help take care of your baby. Each piece has a special purpose in your baby’s treatment. If you have questions about any equipment used to treat your baby, ask their healthcare provider or the nurses in the NICU.

Here’s some equipment providers often use in the NICU:

apnea monitor— A machine that detects when your baby stops breathing for a few seconds. An alarm goes off to let NICU staff know if your baby’s breathing has stopped. 

arterial line— A thin tube that goes into your baby’s artery to check their blood pressure and measure blood gases. An artery is a blood vessel that carries oxygen to all parts of your baby’s body. Blood pressure is the force of blood that pushes against the walls of the arteries. Blood gases are acid, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in your baby’s blood. In very preterm babies, the arterial line will go into the arteries in your baby’s umbilical cord, after the cord is cut after birth.

bili lights— Bright lights over a baby’s incubator that treat jaundice. An incubator is a clear plastic bed that keeps your baby warm. Jaundice is when a baby's eyes and skin look yellow. A baby has jaundice when their liver isn't fully developed or isn't working. Treatment with bili lights is also called phototherapy. Babies can have this treatment for 3 to 7 days.

blood pressure monitor — A machine connected to a small blood pressure cuff wrapped around your baby’s arm or leg. The cuff takes your baby’s blood pressure at regular times and displays it on a screen. Blood pressure is the force of blood that pushes against the walls of the arteries.

cardiopulmonary monitor— A machine that tracks your baby’s heart and breathing rates. It’s connected to your baby’s chest with small sticky pads called leads. Information from the monitor displays on a screen and can be printed out. If your baby’s heart or breathing rate becomes too fast or too slow, an alarm sounds.

central line — A small plastic tube that goes into a large blood vessel. Your baby gets medicine and fluids through the tube, and providers can draw blood out through the tube. One kind of central line that’s used a lot is called a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line).

continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) — A machine that sends air and oxygen to your baby’s lungs through small tubes in their nose or windpipe (trachea) to help them breathe. 

cooling blanket or cap — A blanket or cap used to lower your baby’s body temperature. They may help reduce or prevent problems that can happen if your baby’s brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. 

endotracheal tube— A small plastic tube that is placed down your baby’s windpipe (trachea) and sends air and oxygen to the lungs. 

extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)— A machine that takes blood out of your baby’s body, puts oxygen into the blood and then sends the blood back into the body.

gastrostomy tube (g-tube or gastric feeding tube)— A tube that goes into your baby’s stomach for feeding. Liquids, like breast milk and formula, are put into the tube to feed your baby. 

incubator — A clear plastic bed that helps keep your baby warm. You can touch your baby through holes (also called ports) in the sides of the incubator. Examples of types of incubators are Giraffe® and Isolette®.

intravenous line (IV) — A tube inserted with a needle into your baby’s vein. A vein is a blood vessel that brings blood back to the heart. Your baby can get fluids, medicine, and blood through an IV.

mechanical ventilator— This machine is also called a respirator. It helps your baby breath by giving carefully controlled breaths. These can range from a few extra breaths a minute to entirely taking over the work of breathing. A high-frequency ventilator breathes for your baby at a faster rate than other ventilators. Oscillating and jet ventilators are examples of high-frequency ventilators.

nasal cannula— Small plastic tubes that go into your baby’s nose to help with breathing. Air and oxygen go through the tubes into your baby’s lungs.

nasogastric tube (NG tube)— A feeding tube that goes through your baby’s nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. The esophagus is the tube in your baby’s body that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Your baby can get breast milk, formula, and medicine through the tube. When your baby is fed breast milk or formula though an NG tube, it’s called gavage feeding.

orogastric tube (OG tube)— A feeding tube that goes in your baby’s mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. The esophagus is the tube in your baby’s body that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Your baby can get breast milk, formula, and medicine through an OG tube. When a baby is fed breast milk or formula though an OG tube, it’s called gavage feeding.

oxygen hood— A clear plastic box that fits over a baby’s head and gives oxygen. Providers use it with babies who can breathe on their own but still need some extra oxygen.

pulse oximeter (pulse ox)— A small device wrapped around your baby’s foot or hand that measures the oxygen in their blood. It doesn’t cause your baby any pain. It helps providers know if your baby needs more or less oxygen.

radiant warmer— An open bed with overhead heating to help keep your baby warm. Providers may use a warmer instead of an incubator if your baby needs to be handled a lot. An incubator is a clear plastic bed that helps keep your baby warm.

tracheostomy tube— A curved plastic tube that goes in your baby’s windpipe through a hole made in your baby’s neck. Your baby breathes through the tube instead of their nose and mouth, most often with the help of a ventilator or other equipment to support breathing.

umbilical catheter— A thin tube that goes into the arteries in your baby’s umbilical cord after the cord is cut after birth. Providers can give fluids, blood, medicine, and nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, to your baby through the tube. They also use the tube to draw blood from your baby. 

urinary catheter— A thin tube that goes through the opening where urine passes out of your baby’s body and into the bladder. Providers use it to collect urine for testing.

Last reviewed: April 2025