Hospital Hacks for Parents + Kids || Part Two

Hi everyone - this is part two of Hospital Hacks (a version of Life Hacks) to help make your hospital stay a little more comfortable, fun, and or effient! In case you missed it, you can read here about life hacks for sleep and play when a child is hospitalized.  

Below are more of my favorite hospital hacks to reduce stress related to hospitalization for parents and kids. I think both lists are extremely helpful if you are preparing for a hospitalization with your child, but this one has some real game changers! When Jessica from Positively Oakes shared the organizational tip below by Emily Ley in her Instagram stories, my mind was blown. I thought it would be extremely helpful for parents with a chronically ill child. 

Preparation + Communication

1. For children chronically admitted to the hospital, have a bag ready to go with all of your hospital essentials (e.g. back up toiletries, favorite distraction items, spare clothes) as well as a list of items you want to make sure you grab on your way out the door.

2. Batteries. Not all hospitals have batteries to spare for your child's monitors, pumps, toys or other electronics. 

3. A written list of your child's current medication list and dosages. This one was noted to be extremely helpful by both parents and nurses. 

4. Emily Ley, best-selling author, brilliant suggests organizing the Notes app on your iPhone by labeling them with 3 corresponding emojis at the top. Seriously, genius. It cleans up the app beautifully so you can find the notes you need quicker.

5. A sheet that tells anyone who enters your room a little about your child. Some know this to be called a "Coping Plan." It details what your child's likes/dislikes, how your child expresses joy or pain, what helps to calm her, abilities/disabilities, general summary of routine at home, and what she is working on developmentally. I cannot express enough how beneficial this is for building a stronger connection between families and staff. It helps staff care the best for your child and can help put your mind at ease if/when you need to step away from the bedside. It's very similar to an "all about me" poster, but with added information pertaining to coping, routines, and development. 

6. Express your interest in being included in medical rounds with the team, if interested. This is a great opportunity to understand your child's condition better, clear up misconceptions and make sure you're in agreement with the plan of care and treatment. You are encouraged to be an advocate for yourself and your child.

7. Know that it's okay to limit visitors to the bedside. Family and friends mean well, but sometimes you or your child needs their space to process, cope or heal. Talk with your nurse and they can help more with this change, as well as communicating it to visitors who are present.

Did you also know you can follow hashtags on Instagram now? That's a #lifehack in itself!  I found a few more great ideas that are new to me! Follow Dose of Play on Instagram for more ideas! 

Let me know what you think in the comments below! What categories are you going to put into your iPhone notes app??

You might also be interested in:

Life Hacks - Part 1

Helping kids cope with separation anxiety

Using blank books and puzzles to create meaningful moments

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