Jennifer
02-07-2006, 03:25 PM
1. Basic toiletries-hand and face cream, deodorant, shampoo,
soap and towel, aspirin or Tylenol, tooth brush and paste,
2. Comfy clothes (a few sets- child can become nauseous)
3. Sweater/Sweatshirt
4. Socks and Slippers or comfy shoes
5. Your own pillow for comfort
6. Snacks
7. Change for vending machine, payphone etc…
8. Extra money for parking, cafeteria
9. Things to keep your hands/mind busy: Magazines, puzzle books,
books, bible, hand held game, knitting, etc…
10. Rosary
11. A journal to write down thoughts
12. Portable CD player*
13. List of phone numbers to call (family, friends, cranio support,
doctors)
14. Small electric tea kettle for making tea/coffee in room
15. Movies to watch
16. CD’s to listen to
17. A photo of your child to put at the bed- so medical staff can see
what your child looks like w/o the swelling.
18. Insurance cards, photo id
19. Camera, extra batteries and film
20. Lap top
21. Chargers for electronic devices
* Some hospitals provide this.
Additional comments from a mom currently in the hospital:
1. pack FOOD. especially the microwavable campell soups or anything that only requires very basic "open and zap" to eat. it is very expensive to keep finding places to eat - there are many to choose from but even the hosp caf. is pricey! you can easily find snacky foods and sodas/juices at the hosp and even free in the little kitchens but bring stuff from home to keep costs down.
2. have a sleep back up plan - im here at CHOP (child. hosp of philly) and yes there are sleep rooms. but there are only so many and i have requested one for 4 days now...and never was granted one. im sleeping in her room but as we all know its like sleeping on an airplane..its not really sleep. plus, whenever your kid even breathes different, you jump up. you know all those relatives that say "if you need anything" well now is when you take them up. have them chip in or sponsor a night at a hotel for you. even 5 hours of deep sound sleep goes farther at a WALKABLE hotel from the hosp.
3. dont bring laptop - if you are in a good hosp, there will be computer access all over the place. check ahead
4. bring your cell. can you use it in the room? no. can you step one foot out of the room and use it in the hallway? yes! so dont worry about the calling card...
5. bring something to do - obvious
6. bring comfort clothes and slippers!
7. dont overpack for you - if your hosp is a family friendly one, they will have free washers/dryers to do laundry.
8. have a 3rd person with you if possible. my sister is here with my hub and i. she is our "runner" and "relief person" i thought it would be too much but she walks with me at 2am to and from the hosp when i relieve my hub - she also gets the food and calls friends family when i dont want to leave or waiting for the docs..
If you have more items to add to this list, please send me a PM and I will add it ASAP. Thank you.
soap and towel, aspirin or Tylenol, tooth brush and paste,
2. Comfy clothes (a few sets- child can become nauseous)
3. Sweater/Sweatshirt
4. Socks and Slippers or comfy shoes
5. Your own pillow for comfort
6. Snacks
7. Change for vending machine, payphone etc…
8. Extra money for parking, cafeteria
9. Things to keep your hands/mind busy: Magazines, puzzle books,
books, bible, hand held game, knitting, etc…
10. Rosary
11. A journal to write down thoughts
12. Portable CD player*
13. List of phone numbers to call (family, friends, cranio support,
doctors)
14. Small electric tea kettle for making tea/coffee in room
15. Movies to watch
16. CD’s to listen to
17. A photo of your child to put at the bed- so medical staff can see
what your child looks like w/o the swelling.
18. Insurance cards, photo id
19. Camera, extra batteries and film
20. Lap top
21. Chargers for electronic devices
* Some hospitals provide this.
Additional comments from a mom currently in the hospital:
1. pack FOOD. especially the microwavable campell soups or anything that only requires very basic "open and zap" to eat. it is very expensive to keep finding places to eat - there are many to choose from but even the hosp caf. is pricey! you can easily find snacky foods and sodas/juices at the hosp and even free in the little kitchens but bring stuff from home to keep costs down.
2. have a sleep back up plan - im here at CHOP (child. hosp of philly) and yes there are sleep rooms. but there are only so many and i have requested one for 4 days now...and never was granted one. im sleeping in her room but as we all know its like sleeping on an airplane..its not really sleep. plus, whenever your kid even breathes different, you jump up. you know all those relatives that say "if you need anything" well now is when you take them up. have them chip in or sponsor a night at a hotel for you. even 5 hours of deep sound sleep goes farther at a WALKABLE hotel from the hosp.
3. dont bring laptop - if you are in a good hosp, there will be computer access all over the place. check ahead
4. bring your cell. can you use it in the room? no. can you step one foot out of the room and use it in the hallway? yes! so dont worry about the calling card...
5. bring something to do - obvious
6. bring comfort clothes and slippers!
7. dont overpack for you - if your hosp is a family friendly one, they will have free washers/dryers to do laundry.
8. have a 3rd person with you if possible. my sister is here with my hub and i. she is our "runner" and "relief person" i thought it would be too much but she walks with me at 2am to and from the hosp when i relieve my hub - she also gets the food and calls friends family when i dont want to leave or waiting for the docs..
If you have more items to add to this list, please send me a PM and I will add it ASAP. Thank you.