When Your Child Has a Hospital Visit (And Special Ideas for Afterward!)

My daughter has had more hospital visits than I care to count but from those experiences I have learned many helpful tips on making things go as smoothly as possible. I am also sharing some thoughtful and fun presents and activities to brighten any child’s day!

When one of my daughters gets sick, I like to give her “first-class” treatment. My mom always did this for me as a child, bringing me my food on my grandmother’s antique tray with flowers and a special drink (sprite is a special treat in our house!).

Well, last week my daughter had surgery on both legs and is now in casts for a month, so I need to step up my nursing duties a bit! I want to make the most of this downtime at our house and encourage her frustrated little six-year-old spirit. So I’ve pulled together some low-key activities for us to do together plus several of my sweet readers and friends have given me some helpful ideas. Any of these are enjoyable indoor activities for a hot summer day and the gift ideas are perfect for a variety of occasions, including birthdays.

But first, the hospital tips:

What to Bring:

• Blanket (it’s always so cold in waiting room!)
• Comfortable clothes to leave hospital
• Extra underwear
• Socks
• Favorite stuffed animal or lovey
• iPad or iTouch; perhaps download some calming music
• Earbuds or earphones
• Backpack full of toys/activities including a notepad and pen
• Barrette/rubber band for girls

What to Do During Stay:

• Dim the lights in the room. Makes it less start and more cozy!
• Ask the nurses to give your child’s favorite stuffed animal whatever he/she has to do:  oxygen mask, cast, hospital gown, etc.
• Don’t be afraid to say no (i.e. if they ask if a resident can be involved or if they want to film for a study).
•  The nurse will probably tell you can’t walk back into the OR with your child but I have on many occasions. If you feel like your child needs it ask the doctor who is performing the procedure. My child gets a good laugh at me in scrubs and a hair cap!
• Most hospital stays have “Child Life” specialists or chaplains that can bring activities or offer calming words for anxious children. Just request them!
• Don’t let the recovery nurse push you to leave quickly after the procedure. You don’t want to leave the hospital until you know your child is okay after anethesia.
• Hospitals err on the side of less medicine. I understand that, but I also don’t hesisate to ask for more than Tylenol if my child is hurting.
• Ask a lot of questions. Ask them again if things aren’t clear.
• Don’t be afraid to record what doctor or nurse says on your iPhone (just ask!).
• Whenever your child is discharged, make sure you have a direct number for the doctor’s office (and not just a general hospital number).

Things to Make Hospital Stay Special:

• Email friends or family or classmates’ mothers and ask for them to send a card or photo to decorate hospital room or to give when she returns home.
• Buy a new special nightgowns or pajamas with favorite character to wear in hospital.
• Special deliveries of flowers, cookies, balloons etc.
• Video messages from their friends! This made my daughter so happy!

Low Key Activities When You Get Home:

• Arts and Crafts. Someone gave my six-year-old a Usborne Avtivity Book and it is more than just stickers and coloring pages! Michaels has a great activity set aisle if grandparents/friends ask for ideas!
• Lego set (a small one!)
• Playmobile
• Play beauty shop by washing hair in the sink and setting up a chair in the living room for “styling” (a good idea if they can’t take showers!)
• Play restaurant with these notepads.
• Set up two aisles of chairs and play airplane. Children can pretend to be the captain, flight attendant, and passengers.
• Build a cozy fort with blankets and put favorite dolls or stuffed animals inside. Fun place to facetime family or read or listen to an audiobook.
• Play school. (We love this schoolhouse set.)
• Puzzles
• Paper Dolls (these dolls on my Children’s Gift Idea tab can be printed instantly!)

Gift Ideas:

• Any of the activity sets above!
• American Girl Doll Cast. (If you send your doll off to the doll hospital for repair they will return her in a hospital gown, get well card, and hospital arm bracelet!).
• Personalized Children’s Lap Tray
• Personalized Clip Board.
• Classic Doll Hospital Set.
• Delivery of Tiff’s Treat, Cookie Bouquets, Sprinkles Cupcakes.
• Card and gift card to get yogurt when feeling better. (Elementary-aged children love getting gift cards for their wallets!).
• Donut pillow.
• More cute ideas for girls and boys:

 

Please add your gift ideas below!

 

Source for Top Photo: Cookie Bouquet from Cookies by Design