The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) conference took place September 15–18, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. The event brought together neonatal nurses and healthcare professionals from across the country to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and explore solutions that support better patient care.
For Seal Shield, NANN was an opportunity to connect with neonatal professionals and learn more about the infection prevention challenges they face in their daily work. One topic that stood out in many of our conversations was the challenge of allowing parents to use their phones while visiting their babies in the NICU.
Making Room for Family Moments
Several nurses we spoke with mentioned that parents and visitors are often required to place their phones inside plastic baggies before entering the NICU. While this helps address infection prevention concerns, it can make taking pictures and recording videos more difficult. Some visitors end up removing their phones from the baggies to capture important moments, which can create additional infection prevention concerns. As a result, some healthcare facilities have considered restricting phone use altogether.
However, parents shouldn’t have to sacrifice capturing important memories of their babies in order to support infection prevention.
Early bonding is an important part of a baby’s development and can support their health and well-being. For parents who work full time and cannot be at the hospital all day, video calls can provide a way to stay connected with their babies. Phones also allow siblings, grandparents, and other loved ones to participate in these important moments, even when they cannot be physically present.
A Practical Approach to Phone Hygiene
One example of how healthcare facilities can address this challenge is the Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.
In 2018, Winnie Palmer began using CleanSlate UV in its NICU after previously using plastic baggies to cover devices. The hospital implemented CleanSlate to help sanitize phones and other electronic devices before they were brought into the NICU. A 2019 article from ClickOrlando highlighted how the technology was being used to help protect newborns while allowing parents to keep their phones with them during visits.
Research has shown that phones can harbor bacteria and viruses, making device hygiene an important consideration in healthcare environments, particularly in areas caring for vulnerable newborns. This is part of the reason solutions like CleanSlate can be useful in the NICU, where keeping devices clean is important without preventing parents from staying connected.
Today, Winnie Palmer’s NICU continues to offer CleanSlate UV to visitors. Its current visitor guidelines state that cell phones are allowed in the NICU and that visitors can use CleanSlate to sanitize their devices. CleanSlate UV uses UV-C light to sanitize devices without the need for harsh chemical wipes. The current CleanSlate cycle takes 20 seconds, giving parents and visitors enough time to wash their hands while their phones are being sanitized. Once the cycle is complete, they can take their freshly sanitized phones with them into the NICU.
This simple process can help support both infection prevention and family connection. Instead of choosing between keeping a phone away from the bedside and making it easier to capture important moments, healthcare facilities can provide a way for visitors to sanitize their devices before entering the NICU.
More Ways to Support Infection Prevention
While the CleanSlate was certainly a highlight of many of our conversations at NANN, we also had interest in our washable keyboards and mice. Several attendees mentioned dealing with keyboards that can become dirty or sticky throughout the day, especially with frequent use in busy healthcare environments. The ability to easily clean and disinfect a washable keyboard or mouse was an appealing solution for those looking for a more practical way to keep shared technology clean.
Looking Ahead
Our conversations at NANN reinforced the importance of practical infection prevention solutions that fit into the realities of everyday healthcare. From keeping shared technology clean to helping NICU families stay connected with their babies, small changes can make a meaningful difference in the healthcare environment.
It was great connecting with neonatal nurses, sharing ideas, and discussing how washable technology and UV sanitization solutions can support infection prevention while helping NICU families stay connected.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Seal Shield booth at NANN 2026, shared your experiences, and took the time to speak with our team. We appreciate the work you do every day to care for newborns and support their families.
