What to take to the hospital for 19 month old?

[rcq925]

We may hve to head into the hospital for IV antibiotics. Hayley is 19 months old, just had an infection mid September and did 2 weeks of oral AUgmentin. SHe is sick again, was at clinic Monday and given Zithromax, we have to call the clinic and tell them how she is dong this afternoon. SHe is coughing a lot and has pretty much no appetite, but otherwise in pretty good spirits. They said if she did not get better that they would most likely admit her. I know it is probably precautionary and I trust my doctor, but on the other hand she just doesn't seem that sick to me!

Anyway, we have only been hospitialized once when she was 3 months old, had a Nissen Fundoplication and then the CF diagnosis came. So she pretty much just slept. Now she is a very active toddler and I am worried about how I am going to entertain her all day long in the hospital room and I would really appreciate any suggestions!!! DO you leave the room, let your kids play in the toy room if they mask up and wash hands? Wagon rides around the hospital floor? What do you guys who have had small children hospitalized do with them ALL day in the room? Also what kind of things should I take besides clothes and toys? SHould I take her meds?

Any advice is appreciated, but I am hoping we won't have to go and won't need it!

Thanks!

Becky, Mom to Nathan, 4½ w/o CF and Hayley, 19 months w/CF

 

[kathiel]

the hospital will provide your child's meds,but make sure you have a list of the names, dosages, and number of times taken daily. clothes you take really only need to be what she will come home in. Its hard to put regular clothes on around the IVs and they check on them and do vitals so often regular clothes really get in the way. If your hospital is like TC Thompson's in Chattanooga TN you can bring toys from the playroom into your childs room. depending on the infection your child has you may be able to do wagon rides around the halls, just ask your nurse. If you have ne more ?s feel free to email me awolf5102001@yahoo.com subject: cf.
kathie

Ps. I know all of this because we have spent about 6 weeks out of the last 9 or so in and out of the hospital with my 23month old.

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Well, aside from a list of all her meds and med schedule, don't forget the good stuff...

Stuffed animal
PJ's
Slippers
Books
Videos
Toys

Whatever you can bring to help her feel as comfortable as possible.

 

[anonymous]

Hi there,

i would bring any snacks or food she especially likes. I found hospital food to be awful. My daughter was in the hospital for 7 days and she was 2 1/2. She loves homecooked meals like beef stew or steak tips with A1 sauce(weird, I know), but the poor kid was craving those yummy foods and we just didn't have any in the hospital. Next time if she had a planned hospitalization I would bring these foods. Her room even had a fridge in it for food. My daughter has MRSA so she could not leave her room except to go for x-rays etc. Also, the hospital does not have every medication. They did not carry my daughter's vitamin so she took her own. Some hospitals have a child life specialist that can also provide activities for your child. They brought my daughter play-do, crafts, videos, dolls. Only after I asked for it though. YOU have to be your child's advocate.

Rebecca(mom to Sammy 7 no CF and Maggie almost 3 with CF)

 

[IG]

I'd also suggest a pillow.
Generally hospital provided pillows kinda.. well in my case either too flat or too uncomfortably hard.
Plus if you bring your own and keep it clean, she won't be laying on some hospital provided thing so close to her head/mouth/nose.
[I'm thinking of MRSA in that case]

 

[Emily65Roses]

I never eat hospital food, won't touch it. So I always take lots of snacks with me, and my mom and Mike bring in pizza snd Chinese and stuff. Regular clothes might get in the way, they're right, but if your daughter will be more comfortable in her own clothes as opposed to an ass-open hospital gown, try PJs. I live in my PJs at the hospital. As for the play room, I'd say let her go, absolutely. I'm not *allowed* to leave my room when I'm inpatient because of some of the stuff I culture. So if they let her leave, do it! It gets SO boring if you're stuck in your room the whole time. If you want to gown and mask and glove her first, that's fine. But it may not be necessary. Wash hands, sure, but all the get-up may not be needed. Up to you, of course.

I also bring stuffed animals, my laptop sometimes, VHS movies (no DVD players yet), giant puzzles (the Disney ones that are 3X5 feet, I do them on the floor), books, etc. As for a little one, her first time on IVs, I would try to make that as fun as possible. All the littler kids tend to love IV pole rides. So if you're going anywhere, stand her on the IV pole and push her around on that. She's liable to really enjoy it.

 

[Emily65Roses]

And to go along with what Candice said... bring a touch of home. A favorite blanket, and pillow, or some pictures, stuff like that. I always like to bring pictures to put up and the quilt my mom made me. Stuff like that. Things that just make the hospital room seem less institutionalized and more like home, since she'll be living there for days/weeks.

 

[rose4cale]

When my daughter was in the hospital for a week with RSV she was 3 months. She spent a lot of time sleeping but the nurses made it pretty clear we were to be with her the whole time. It wasn't until the last day they told me I was entitled to some lunch. I spent a week in there sleeping in a chair and starving. My husband would 'relieve' me when he could so that I could go home and shower and eat something, but the stay was terrible. The hospital was so un-hospitable to us. It was a small town one so I would have thought they would have been a little more accomodating and friendly. Guess not!

Make it as close to home for her as you can! Hopefully you won't have to go!

Oh...GO COLTS!

 

[daelwill]

I would suggest you take her enzymes, and vitamins... depending on the nurses and whether your daughter will be in a CF section (they may not know or understand the enzymes) and a list of all the meds she does take with doses.

Take her toys (you really do not want her to play with the toys from the toy room- if you do, make sure to take lysol wipes or some sort of disinfectant to clean them with first).

movies and such, coloring books, her favorite stuffed animal, her favorite blankie and or pillow.

Hope it all goes well for you.

 

[anonymous]

When my son was in the hospital when he was younger-he could go to the play room or check out videos, games, etc. Try to find some toys that she hasnt played with lately or that she doesnt have- EtchaSketch comes to mind or Magnadoodle-they still have these dont they? lol He is 20. They now do require CF kids wear


masks. As far as medicine I would have enough on hand for a day or so- sometimes it takes a while to get things ordered. They would always let me order a second tray if I wanted to- some meals were better than others- breakfast was ok and we could get stuff from the nurses. Also we always had a list of restaurants that we could order take out from. Yes- take pillows and comfy slippers and favorite blanket. Good luck- hope she gets to stay home.

 

[rcq925]

Thanks to everyone for all the replies and good ideas on what to take! Our doctor is giving it one more day until 11am tomorrow, if she is not better then she will be admitted, and it's looking that way, so I am preparing to go! Thanks again to everyone that replied!!!!

Becky

 

[anonymous]

Becky,

I think everyone has given you great ideas. We definitely bring books, videos, her vest (just the vest part), extra enzymes (they don't always bring them when you need them), a list of meds and dosages is essential (if it's a teaching hospital you will be asked about meds by several people- they love it if you have it all charted out in advance- they just make a copy), magazines or books for YOU.

If your hospital does have child life volunteers, take advantage, and take a break sometimes. Hospital stays can be exhausting as a parent. Vitals are usually taken every four hours night and day which really interferes on your child's sleep as well as your own.

Also you might want to think about learning how to do IVs at home. It is pretty intimidating at first, but quite easy once you get the hang of it. We did Samantha's first 14 day round of IV's at the hospital, but ever since we stay the initial two days and follow-up at home. It
is SO much more comfortable and you and your child get much more rest.

Also I would be weary about carting around the hospital. If your child is in isolation, they won't allow it. Also, remember a hospital is a hot zone for germs. There will be kids with RSV, flu, rotavirus, etc. I would take precautions. And don't be afraid to remind everyone (doctors included) to wash their hands upon entering the room. Samantha's first 14 day round of IV's ended up with her catching rotavirus from another patient on day 11. That's why we won't stay for an extended period anymore.

One last thing, some flip-flops for the parent's shower!

Hope everything goes well,

Maria (mother of three daughters, the youngest, Samantha w/cf)

 

[anonymous]

One more thing,

You might want to ask when the PICC line will be placed. Sometimes they admit your child the day before a PICC placement and then they need to put in a regular IV (in the hand) while you wait. Ask the doctors if you can avoid the regular IV and just be admitted the morning of the PICC placement. That way your child will be spared the trauma of the additional IV (that is only going to be pulled as soon as the PICC is functional).

Maria

 

[anonymous]

Watch the nurses though, if she has a picc line every time they hook her up, sometimes they forget to wipe the end of it if you don't remind them and little kids get those ends all over everything.

 

[NoDayButToday]

Some tips:
1. Bring slippers-- for yourself and Haley. I live in my slippers at the hospital-- in fact, the last time I was there, mine got so much use that we had to toss them when I left, they were so worn LOL.
2. For me at least, they don't wake me up every four hours for vitals. They do them when I go to bed, around 11:30ish, and then once at 4:30 am. In the morning, they check them whenever I wake up.

My first extended hospitalization that I remember occured when I was 5, almost 6. I can't really remember the particular things I did to keep myself occupied (my mom would know better), but I do know that a member of the cleaning staff at the hospital said that I had too many toys in my room! But there's no such thing as too many toys when you're spending 14 days away from home and you are a kid! I still pack tons, and my hospital has great Child Life. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

PS: It's nice to have the time to read and post for once-- we have a precious few days off from school!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Just wanted to let you know that Haley is now in the hospital for a tune-up so please keep her in your prayers!

Thanks & Hugs,
Kelli (mom of Sydney 2wcf)