New cot cams to keep families together at Monash Children's Hospital

New technology is making things a little easier for families who have newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit at Melbourne's Monash Children's Hospital.

Visiting rules mean extended family are still not allowed in the ward, however new cot cameras are now allowing them to meet their little ones virtually.

More than 60 new cameras called NICView cameras have now been switched on in the neonatal intensive care unit at the children's hospital.

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For Melbourne mum Jessica Smith, the cameras have been life-changing.

Smith had her son, Bobby, at just 26 weeks, weighing a little over 400 grams.

She has been at the hospital every day since.

"It's been hard not having my mum come in," Smith said.

"Especially when Bobby was really sick and we weren't sure what was gonna happen.

"It's so lovely that she can see him now."

Smith said the camera technology was extremely reassuring.

"To see his little hand move and just know," she said.

"It is really great to be able to use this technology, we were really excited to use it."

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With her first child, three-year-old Sunny, back at home, Smith said she sometimes feels guilty juggling the two.

"It will make it easier when I do leave because I already don't spend as much time as I would like here," she said.

"It will make it much easier to go home to Sunny and to be able to see Bobby whenever I want virtually."

Director of Clinical Operations Dr Jacquie Taylor said the cameras were an important addition to the ward.

"(For families) to be able to log in and see their baby and continue that bonding and attachment even when they are not physically here in person is so important," she said.

Pandemic restrictions mean only parents are allowed into the NICU, meaning siblings, grandparents and other loved ones miss out.

But now, they can watch online in real-time.

"She's never going to do anything else but look at Bobby," Smith said of her mother after showing her how to view the live feed.

The cameras were purchased thanks to $330,000 raised through the Monash Health Foundation.

While it is not the same as being by their bedside, it certainly will be reassuring for friends and family.