But if he's still in hospital, Eamon's parents, Stephanie and Jared King of Conder, will be pleased he'll be in a more pleasant environment.

Canberrans will be able to have a sneak peak at stage one of the $112 million women and children's hospital at an open day on Saturday before it opens late this month.

Eamon has been in intensive care since he was born at 29 weeks gestation on June 27. Mrs King has nothing but praise for the hospital staff who provide Eamon with around-the-clock care.

''They're helpful, really supportive. I've had a couple of bad days but they're so supportive and that's what you need,'' she said.

But the open plan structure of the busy but ageing unit is not ideal for the babies and their families.

Mrs King said the new unit, which will have two cots per room, will be better for the babies. ''It looks like it's going to be so much better for the kids and the parents. You look at things at the moment - it's so noisy, there's so much going on and so much distraction. I think it will be so much more calm for [families] and for the babies,'' she said.

The unit will have the capacity to be expanded from 24 to 34 beds.

The new rooms feature distinct zones for babies, their families and staff. Families, who often virtually live in the hospital, will have access to lockers and somewhere to plug in a laptop computer.

Cots will be placed in areas which have no overhead lights or air vents.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit's clinical director, Associate Professor Zsuzsoka Kecskes, said being able to control the environment was important when caring for babies who had left the protective environment of the womb early.

''This also allows us to individualise the environment of the baby: the light, the temperature, the noise, so that will be hopefully much better for the little babies,'' she said.

The use of separate patient rooms will require staff, who are used to being able to wave to colleagues for help, to work in new ways.

Windows have been strategically placed to allow staff to see each other and new electronic call devices have been installed.

Clinical nurse consultant Alison Moore said preparations were being finalised to move patients into the new unit next month.

''That day we are double staffing probably if not more.

''And although we're only moving across and we don't have to use any lifts or anything it is a mammoth task, it is like a military operation.''

Chief Minister and Health Minister Katy Gallagher, who visited the new hospital earlier this month as the interior fitout was nearing completion, said a new model of care would be modelled that was genuinely world class. ''The birthing and neonatal intensive care facilities for example will be the best possible environment for newborn babies and their families,'' she said.

After stage one of the hospital opens, the old hospital maternity unit will be completely refurbished before stage two opens next year.