List of children's hospitals in the United States

The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties.

Some children and young people have to spend relatively long periods in the hospital, so having access to play and teaching staff can also be an important part of their care.

With local partnerships, this can include trips to local botanical gardens, the zoo, and public libraries, for instance.

A medical doctor who undertakes vocational training in pediatrics must also be accepted for membership by a professional college before they can practice pediatrics.

While many general hospitals can treat children adequately, pediatric specialists may be a better choice when it comes to treating rare afflictions that may prove fatal or severely detrimental to young children, in some cases before birth.