noun
infant home; residential nursery
A Japanese child welfare facility that cares for infants (under 1 year old) who cannot be raised by their parents. Distinct from a general daycare or orphanage.
彼女は乳児院で働いている。
She works at an infant home.
乳児院は、主に0歳児を預かる施設です。
An infant home is a facility that mainly cares for children under one year old.
児童養護施設 cares for older children (usually 1–18 years), whereas 乳児院 specializes in infants under 1 year.
Compound of 乳児 (infant) and 院 (institution).