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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To remind everyone that pediatric wards accept donations of old toys, prams and clothes?

26 replies

BatmansBoxers · 17/04/2019 08:14

We've just done four long weeks in hospital and it was made slightly more bearable by toys and prams on the ward. The ward pram enabled me to take my daughter out into the garden, or to the hospital coffee shop and feel normal for a bit. She loved getting out of her room and looking around.

They told me they don't have many bouncy chairs or prams and I thought I'd remind people they do accept donations. Selling them online you often barely get their value back, so please consider if you would like to donate to your local children's ward. It makes a difference to kids who are in for a long time, and the families.

OP posts:

bobstersmum · 17/04/2019 08:16

I have a loft full of toys and also a buggy that I didn't know what to do with, I will ring our children's ward and ask if they want them!

DanielRicciardosSmile · 17/04/2019 08:17

Kids' DVDs are also a godsend, especially when children are too poorly to get out of bed.

katmarie · 17/04/2019 08:19

I didn't know this, I'm sure I have some items to donate. Thanks OP

Angie169 · 17/04/2019 08:21

I did not know this , I dont have any DCs but i will pass the message on to those that do.

CountFosco · 17/04/2019 08:23

And books, we got through so many books from the playroom when DS was in and out. He was on oxygen and couldn't move from his bed and was too tired to play a lot but stories were very important.

We've donated after our experiences in pediatrics and got a thank you card from one of the longer term patients

Original poster

BatmansBoxers · 17/04/2019 08:23

Thank you, it's very kind! It was the worst time of my life, I had to give my daughter CPR and we were ambulanced in so I arrived with nothing and her clothes were cut off for defib pads. It made me feel so much better that they had a spare suit and teddy for her.

I have other children at home so couldn't be there 24/7 and they got sensory lights and a chair for her, which meant even when I wasn't there she wasn't just stuck in a cot alone, she had things to interact with.

I am so grateful and hoping by donating my kids old toys and telling people they can donate, that I will help others

OP posts:

Redshoeblueshoe · 17/04/2019 08:23

This will sound so random, but last week the playroom at my local hospital were desperate for dice.

BendingSpoons · 17/04/2019 08:25

Our hospital won't accept used toys, games and books due to an infection control risk, which is a shame. Good to know about prams and bouncy chairs though. We managed to donate our pram to a charity that passes them on but it was hard to get rid of it and it was in great condition.

Original poster

BatmansBoxers · 17/04/2019 08:26

Ours accept anything that can be washed or wiped, but it's always a good idea to check first.

OP posts:

BasilBrushes · 17/04/2019 08:41

The best people to talk to are the play team, they’ll know what can and can’t be accepted. As the OP said, it has to be stuff that can be wiped. We can’t accept soft toys for example.

Original poster

BatmansBoxers · 17/04/2019 08:45

Neonatal units will also accept baby clothes that can be washed on high heats, especially tiny baby and up to 1 month

OP posts:

EssentialHummus · 17/04/2019 08:46

No soft toys at ours either.

Anise7438 · 17/04/2019 11:20

I didn't know about prams illask oiurs!

Original poster

BatmansBoxers · 17/04/2019 11:45

The pram was probably the best thing! It gave us some normality. I have a double pram now but I'll be donating her older brothers' single pram.

OP posts:

SileneOliveira · 17/04/2019 11:54

I'm not a nurse but I do volunteer in a charity shop and see what people think is fit to hand in. Not saying anyone on this thread would hand in broken or manky things but so many people do....

Hospitals in particular are going to be fussy about cleaning and infection control so I would imagine hard plastic toys would be preferred - lego, duplo or action figures which can be put in hot water and scrubbed. Board games which are complete with all pieces and instructions. Yes to things like DVDs and jigsaws. Anything sold in the UK should by law have the CE mark to guarantee safety - I know in our charity shop we are not allowed to sell any toys without one. Hospitals are likely to not want donations of things they can't guarantee are safe.

We also don't/can't sell things like bike helmets and car seats as we just have no way of guaranteeing their safety.

Personally I am not a fan of soft toys at all, they pick up muck so easily and are just germ factories.

Sirzy · 17/04/2019 11:56

Things like socks and pjs are also accepted at our local peads unit. When you get rushed in in the middle of the night it’s handy!

Also travel sized cosmetics are useful.

rositathechair · 17/04/2019 12:00

RE books and toys - if paeds don’t take them - I used to work on a neuro/critical care unit , we were crying out for them , especially children and teens books and toys like jigsaws or board games . I imagine many other wards are the same - children are often visiting on adult wards when parents/grandparents , or older siblings are very very unwell/dying and quite often whoever’s taken them won’t have thought of something to occupy them .

LannieDuck · 17/04/2019 12:04

It's the wrong time of year, but each Christmas the charity childsplaycharity.org/ sets up Amazon lists for toys for hospitals. It's primarily US-based, but they have a couple of UK/Irish hospitals on their list too.

CustardCreamLover · 17/04/2019 12:23

I don't know why I didn't think of this. Our son was born 5 weeks prematurely and unexpectedly so we had nothing with us when he was born. He was in hospital clothes in the NICU and the SCBU until we could bring our own in. I will definitely investigate if they would like his old tiny baby and newborn clothes because we have lots! Thank you for the post.

MrsHarveySpecterV · 17/04/2019 13:00

I saw this thread and called our local children's hospital as we are having a huge clear out at the minute and they don't take anything second hand at all regardless of how good the condition is, what a shame.

Wifeofapostie · 17/04/2019 15:05

Just wanted to add, it’s best to telephone first. Our local children’s unit can’t accept donations of anything used/second hand generally. They will take second hand DVD’s and board type games however they won’t take toys, prams, bouncers, play-mats or clothes. However, they will take donations of PJ’s and underwear ect that a new with tags/packets.
Batman, hope your little one is recovering well after her long stay in hospital.

TapasForTwo · 17/04/2019 15:09

Our local children's hospital will only accept new toys as well. Some of us might be referring to the same hospital.

SospanFrangipan · 17/04/2019 15:23

We donated all DSs tiny baby clothes to the local scbu, and got a lovely letter from them saying thank you. Always prefer donating things than trying to sell to people that want everything for nothing!

Eliza9919 · 17/04/2019 16:22

I've tried to donate stuff in the past but been told they don't take it due to contamination/germs etc.

Wifeofapostie · 17/04/2019 16:43

I’m a neonatal nurse and we accept donations of used good condition clothes and blankets but not equipment such as bouncy chairs and prams. It’s always worth telephoning and asking. It’s also worth bearing in mind that most units won’t have any significant amount of storage space for donations of any condition. That’s our biggest issue.

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