The Monash Children's Hospital last week unveiled its new family room, built exclusively for mothers and fathers with children undergoing treatment.

The room is equipped with a shower, laundry, a meals area and wi-fi.

Ronald McDonald House Monash CEO Jennifer North said parents could relax in the family room.

"It's a place to go when families can't go home," she said. "Any family that's got a sick child at Monash Children's can use this room

The family room is open from 7.30am to 10pm every day.

More than 70 families use the room every day of the week and the highest number it has ever recorded is 82.

Mindy Monck knows what it was like to live largely on a hospital ward for about 12 months.

When her son, Ethan, was only eight months old, he was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer known as Wilm's tumour.

"It was like Groundhog day every single day," she said. "The same four walls every day."

Mrs Monck said that because the family room was on the same floor of the children's ward, parents could slip away without being too far from their children.

"You're not going to feel guilty, you know the nurses are going to be able to find you really easily. I think everyone's just going to be a lot happier with it."