Overnight hospital stay- what do I bring?

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Forum -> Children's Health

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amother

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:49 am

Hi all,

My child is having a minor procedure tomorrow morning however they said he needs to stay overnight.
So I will be there with him tomorrow from 6am until 4:30 and then dh will take over the night shift until he’s discharged.
Besides for change of clothes, coloring books, food, snacks and chargers what else can I bring to entertain him? And myself…

Any ideas?

amother

Vanilla

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:54 am

How old is he? can he watch on a tablet?

A lot of children's hospitals have child life services that will bring you age appropriate toys and games. Find out if that is an option. We always found those to be the best because they were new to DC so kept him entertained for longer.

yachnabobba

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:06 pm

Clean snood
Slippers
Soda
For kid
Favorite beverage
Cozy homie blanket
Let him watch the hospital TV
Nothing is going to happen from a couple of woozy hours with blues clues

amother

Scarlet

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:10 pm

Many ny hospitals actually have uncle moishy, MBC and more on their system. Headphones, extra shopping bag to get some food from chesed room, dvd player, pen, paper, single player game, books

amother

Firebrick

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:23 pm

Likely they will NOT provide you a bed to sleep in. If you want to get a nice rest I would suggest bringing a excercise mat or something like that which you can sleep on.

amother

Cornsilk

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:26 pm

You need essentials like mouthwash, toothpaste, and deodorant if you're staying the night.

amother

Electricblue

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:32 pm

amother Firebrick wrote:

Likely they will NOT provide you a bed to sleep in. If you want to get a nice rest I would suggest bringing a excercise mat or something like that which you can sleep on.

ive been in nearly every hospital in NY every pediatrics dept had a bed or a chair/bench that turned into a bed

amother

Mintgreen

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:33 pm

Comfort item from home- depending on age- but my dc always takes a “cozy” stuffed animal.

amother

Electricblue

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:33 pm

make sure to get acquainted with where the bikur cholim/kosher room is. they likely will have many odds and ends you forgot to bring along

amother

Violet

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 3:39 pm

amother Electricblue wrote:

ive been in nearly every hospital in NY every pediatrics dept had a bed or a chair/bench that turned into a bed

Not only that, but Ive been in chop and nemours and there was a bed and a cot or recliner for both parents.

(2 dif. Kids, no worries bh theyre fine.)

amother

Whitewash

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 4:23 pm

What does your child like? and what age?

I'm thinking of similar things I'd bring on airplane.

-For mine would be loaded mp3 with story tapes
-color by numbers or dot to dot
-little crafts. they sell tons now for chanuka. sticker by number or those that you paint with water and picture appears and when dries it disappears. scratch offs
-traveling games or card games. Something easy to shlep but you can play together

amother

Butterscotch

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 4:29 pm

Bring whatever you’d bring if you were going to a hotel for a night. With one of my kids last emergency hospitalization we didn’t need to bring anything except clothes and contact lenses. The child life specialist had toys and activities and tablets etc for when kiddo was up to doing things and in the hospital room they had pajamas for kid to keep and a blanket made for kids in the hospital and they gave us soap and deodorant and toothbrushes and toothpaste. Shower had robes (I think) and towels. Kosher menu (just check to make sure everything is kosher) and Bikur Cholim took care of food and Bikur Cholim room also had games and Magazines etc. Hope your kid has a refuah shleimah!
(This was Baltimore by the way)

amother

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 5:38 pm

Thanks for all your replies. This is not in the US! I doubt there is a Bikur Cholim room. It is a children’s hospital so in second thought I’m sure they will have entertainment. They said I will have a bed.

amother

Butterscotch

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 5:40 pm

amother OP wrote:

I forgot to say they had a couch that turned into two twin beds and pillows and blankets for the parents.
I’m sure you’ll be fine. Hatzlacha rabbah!

amother

RosePink

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 5:49 pm

There are lots of countries that have kosher rooms or cupboards. I am not sure which country you are in but in Europe many have.
One of my kids had frequent hospitalisations and we never took anything, they always had a playroom and play specialists that would bring stuff.
Make sure you are dressed comfortable bed maybe bring some paracetamol- I always get a headache in hospitals.
Hazlacha!

ila

Sun, Nov 27 2022, 7:31 pm

I liked to take my pillow makes me sleep better… and warm socks in case the child is cold

Pooh

Tue, Nov 29 2022, 7:25 pm

What did you end up taking and actually using? My ds is having surgery tomorrow I’d love not to schlep stam things we won’t need/use in the end.

amother

Tue, Nov 29 2022, 10:15 pm

Hi all. So I took some activities but they had a fully stocked playroom, play therapists, tv screen and playground. We coloured, did play doh, Lego…

My child woke up pretty ok BH and I basically entertained him all day. The only thing we lacked was food! I should have bought more.

BH BH they ended up discharging us early and we left at 5 PM instead of staying the night.

Amother RosePink this was in GOSH in central London. Do you know if there’s a pantry there (out of curiosity, I hope we are done with that now)?

@Pooh lots of luck and refuah shelimah. Bring a cozy blanket (like the swaddle bed type) for you and your child. Feels more comforting then the thin hospital blankets.

amother

RosePink

Wed, Nov 30 2022, 2:39 am

amother OP wrote:

I am so happy all went well and you could be discharged early. I also live in London and of course GOSH have a room (all the common hospitals have one).
See the link
https://www.ezraumarpeh.org/re.....ital/

This is an organisation name Ezra Umarpah and they have many rooms. There is also another organisation that have some rooms in other hospitals.
https://gezint.org.uk/about/

I went to visit a friend on Yom tov and went to get her some food from the shabbos room in a different hospital and I was really impressed with how well it was stocked with shabbos food, newspapers... But I am not sure about during the week. I have been in the shabbos room in UCLH during the week and I remember that they had noddle soups, packs of biscuits and crackers.
The link I

amother

RosePink

Wed, Nov 30 2022, 2:42 am

You can see here where else they have a respite room.
https://www.ezraumarpeh.org/re.....tals/

Shabbos in a box is also amazing as you get all the basics for shabbos, light candles, grape juice, kiddush cup...

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