By FREIDA FRISARO

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) _ Tutu Tuesday begins outside Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where visitors are greeted by a valet whose tutu clashes with his normal uniform _ shorts and a baseball jersey.

John Aristizabal takes good-natured kidding as he parks cars at the Hollywood, Florida, hospital and says it’s all for the kids.

Inside the hospital, tutus are everywhere. Doctors, nurses, technicians and receptionists don the colorful layers of tulle, decorated with polka dots and bows. Even Nutmeg, the in-house therapy dog, has a specially designed pink tutu. Hospital administrators also play along, wearing tutus over their suits.

Pediatric anesthesiologist Dr. Bob Kaye has added a tutu to his routine and finds that his patients and their parents like the distraction.