Tiny Baby Program
Premature and critically ill newborns receive specialized care in the Tiny Baby Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In the Tiny Baby Program, we provide care for extremely premature babies born less than 26 weeks gestation, bringing together a highly skilled team that focuses on the unique medical and developmental needs of our smallest and most fragile patients. This multidisciplinary team includes neonatologists, advanced practice providers, , pharmacists, therapists and other specialists who provide comprehensive care.
Our goal is to give every tiny baby the strongest possible start and to support families with expertise, compassion and hope, so that they can truly thrive.
Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s
When your baby needs intensive care, experience, expertise and compassion matter. The Tiny Baby Program is designed to provide the highest level of care for the smallest and most medically complex newborns.
Specialized NICU Expertise
Our board-certified neonatologists lead our experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team, who have advanced training in caring for extremely low birth weight and high-risk newborns. This focus allows us to anticipate challenges early and respond quickly and precisely.
Our multidisciplinary team also includes neonatal advanced practice providers, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, therapists, and other subspecialists who work together to create individualized care plans for each infant.
Advanced Technology and Evidence-Based Care
Our NICU has a Level IV designation from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The highest level available, this designation means that our NICU team provides the most advanced life support and monitoring technology for premature and critically ill infants. This includes advanced respiratory support, continuous monitoring, and specialized nutritional and developmental therapies. We follow evidence-based protocols and continually evaluate outcomes to ensure the safest, most effective care.
Family-Centered Care
We believe parents are essential members of the care team. From daily communication and education to hands-on involvement, when possible, we support families through every step of the NICU journey. Our goal is to care not just for your baby but for the entire family as well.
Commitment to Long-Term Outcomes
Our care doesn’t stop at survival. We focus on protecting brain development, supporting growth, and promoting the best possible long-term health and developmental outcomes. Our program is built on expertise, innovation, and compassion, so even the smallest patients receive the strongest possible start.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Mia's Story
Mia weighed just 350 grams — less than a pound — when she was born, and she was intubated when she was just seconds old. But with expert, compassionate care, Mia grew stronger over the next 172 days she spent in the NICU.
Our Approach to Treatment
Our approach to care is rooted in collaboration, expertise and individualized treatment. We understand that every tiny baby is unique, and our multidisciplinary team works together to create a tailored care plan for each infant.
We believe families are essential partners in care. Parents are encouraged to participate in daily routines, bonding activities, and decision-making, helping to strengthen the connection between baby and family while supporting developmental progress.
Our commitment to excellence extends beyond our hospital. We are proud members of the Tiny Baby Collaborative, a network of national and international NICUs dedicated to improving outcomes for extremely premature and critically ill infants. Through this collaboration, we share knowledge, data and strategies with other leading programs worldwide, ensuring that our Tiny Baby Program continuously evolves to provide the safest, most effective care.
Our Services
Our multidisciplinary team follows comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines to provide specialized care for the most fragile newborns, with a focused expertise in extremely premature infants born less than 26 weeks gestation. These guidelines ensure that every aspect of your baby’s care is carefully managed, including:
- Delivery room care and newborn intensive care
- Respiratory and lung support
- Growth and development
- Cardiovascular health
- Infection prevention and control
- Nutrition
- Skin care and thermoregulation
- IV access and medication management
We also provide several other specialized programs and services tailored to premature infants, including:
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The multidisciplinary, family centered BREATHE team provides coordinated care for babies who need breathing support beyond the newborn period. Whether your child is a Tiny Baby Program graduate who still needs extra help to breathe, or an older infant requiring respiratory support after an initial NICU stay, our team supports inpatient care teams and families to recommend appropriate lung and airway evaluations and to offer strategies to optimize breathing therapies.
We also help families make decisions about long-term breathing support for their child, such as tracheostomy and home ventilation, when it becomes a consideration. We partner closely with families in decision-making, aiming to help each child thrive and reach their highest neurodevelopment potential.
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The intestinal rehabilitation team (also called CUIRE: Care Under Intestinal Rehabilitation Excellence) provides a comprehensive range of multidisciplinary services for rehabilitating patients diagnosed with short bowel syndrome, severe gastrointestinal dysfunction and intestinal failure. The multidisciplinary team includes a gastroenterologist, neonatologist, pediatric surgeon, intestinal rehabilitation trained dietitian, hospitalist, advanced practice provider, pharmacist and program coordinator.
The team cares for patients in the NICU with complex intestinal disorders with a continuum of comprehensive care after hospital discharge in the CUIRE clinic. The goal of this specialized team is to provide evidence-based care to improve outcomes, and minimize hepatic injury (or liver injury), progression to hepatic failure and need for hepatic and intestinal transplantation. The team is focused on decreasing complications and improving health outcomes related to prolonged parenteral nutrition (or intravenous feeding), cholestatic liver disease and oral aversion.
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The Neonatal Follow-Up Program is an essential extension of care for babies treated in our Tiny Baby Program, ensuring continuity from intensive neonatal care through early childhood. Our follow-up clinic team monitors your child’s physical and cognitive development so they can receive any additional needed treatment and services as they grow. Learn more about the Neonatal Follow-Up Program.
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The Feeding Enhancement and Development (FEED) Program is a specialized interdisciplinary team of neonatologists, nurses, dietitians, and speech-language pathologists dedicated to supporting the growth and feeding success of babies in the NICU and after discharge home. Working closely with the NICU care team, we evaluate and treat feeding and swallowing difficulties that may impact a baby’s growth and development, while providing individualized feeding strategies and family-centered support. Through our FEED Clinic, we continue caring for infants after discharge, including babies with oral feeding challenges, poor weight gain, and those who go home requiring nasogastric (NG) tube feeding. Learn more about the Neonatal Feeding Enhancement and Development Program.
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Every child grows and develops at their own pace, but research shows that a child’s first three years are the most important time for learning. Florida’s Early Steps Program provides early intervention services to eligible infants and toddlers, from birth to 36-months, with developmental delays, disabilities, and at-risk conditions. There is no income requirement to qualify for Early Steps. Services are individualized and based on the needs of your child and family. Most services are provided in your home at no cost to your family. Learn more about the Early Steps Program.
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The Nutrition Care Lab plays a vital role in supporting babies cared for in our Tiny Baby Program, many of whom require specialized nutritional management during their NICU stay. Sometimes in the hospital setting, direct breastfeeding isn’t possible. The Nutrition Care Lab provides a safe place for storage, preparation (including fortification) and delivery of mother’s pumped milk. Breastfeeding supplies and pump parts are available from the Care Lab. Lactation education and support for mothers and families is provided by our international board-certified lactation consultants. The Care Lab also offers processing of donor breast milk for our most premature infants and carries a variety of specialty formulas for those infants with specific nutritional needs. Learn more about the Nutrition Care Lab.
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The LifeLine Critical Care Transport Team provides 24/7 specialized transport for critically ill pediatric patients across the state of Florida. For our smallest and most vulnerable patients, this includes advanced neonatal stabilization and respiratory support to ensure a safe transition to our NICU. Our transport environment is equipped with state-of-the-art vibration dampening flooring, specialized isolette mattresses, high frequency ventilation, positioning aides to promote comfort and physiologic stability, and protective eye shields to limit light exposure during transport. Our team of nurses and respiratory specialists works seamlessly to ensure infants arrive clinically stable and ready to receive the highly specialized, lifesaving care offered through the Tiny Baby Program. Learn more about the LifeLine Critical Care Transport Team.
Comprehensive Care That Begins Before Birth
While families often won’t know they are going to have a premature baby before their child is born, certain maternal or fetal conditions carry an increased risk of prematurity. For expectant mothers experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, we offer programs that provide care for you and your baby that begins before .
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program: Our team of maternal-fetal medicine physicians, high-risk pregnancy nurses, genetic counselors and other specialists provide comprehensive, individualized care for you and your unborn baby. Learn more about the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program.
Fetal Care Program: Our maternal-fetal, neonatal and pediatric specialists provide care for women and families facing a fetal anomaly, supporting them through pregnancy, delivery and follow-up care. Learn more about the Fetal Care Program.
What to Expect
Having a baby in the NICU can feel overwhelming, especially when your infant is extremely premature or medically fragile. The Tiny Baby Program is designed to provide the most advanced care for our tiniest patients while supporting families every step of the way.
In the NICU, your baby will be cared for by a dedicated team of neonatologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, developmental specialists, pharmacists, and other essential team members who will monitor your baby 24/, using state-of-the-art technology and evidence-based practices to support growth, stability, and development.
Parents can stay with their baby 24 hours a day. If you are not available, your doctor or advanced practice provider will reach you by phone to update you and answer your questions. We provide family-centered care and view parents and families as essential members of your child’s care team. Learn more about what to expect in the NICU.
Before discharge, you will receive hands-on education and support to ensure a smooth transition home. We provide follow-up care through our Neonatal Follow-Up to monitor your baby’s ongoing development and address any concerns early.
Resources for Families
Johns Hopkins All Children’s offers families three Ronald McDonald Houses across campus. All locations offer private rooms, snacks, a television and laundry facilities. Some meals are provided. Hospital transport services are also available 24/7 for all locations. Learn more.
Contact Us and Location Information
For more information or to make an appointment, please give us a call at the phone number below. We serve families in the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond.
Give Us a Call
Call 727-767-4313
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