To ask how I can keep an immobile 3 year old entertained in hospital?

[AngeloMysterioso]

My poor DS2 has broken his leg 😭 we’re currently in hospital with it all strapped up to this frame that looks like some sort of medieval torture device and he can’t move at all- has to lie flat on his back. We might be here for a few weeks as he’s having traction to heal it. I’ve brought some books to read to him and my laptop so he can watch cartoons but I don’t want him just staring at a screen for the next few weeks- but he can’t even sit up to play games or with toys or anything. Any advice for what else I can do to keep him occupied? He’s usually very energetic and I’m worried he’s going to be bored stiff and pissed off about it once the novelty wears off.

Ask for the play team to come and see you. They will be able to give you ideas for what you can do and will even do some sessions so you can have a break.

Ask for the play specialist - they are wonderful and will have seen this a million times before and have loads of ideas and resources of things to keep him busy . Good luck

How about a Yoto player and some story cards for it? If he’s not in his own room… some headphones too?

There’s one other child in his room atm- a 10 month old with tonsillitis 😞 but we’re keeping the volume low so it doesn’t disturb them. Will ask after the play team, thanks for the suggestion.

A yoto player

Use screens as much as you need and don't worry about it. You're in an unusual situation, not every day life. There are some fun games on the CBeebies app.

Don't feel guilty about using screens in this situation.

Stickers are good for this - we used them in a plane flight. Wipe clean white board, crafts (ask hospital play lead). Good luck.

Simply, screens are your best friend in this situation. It’s not a standard situation so ‘standard rules’ do not apply. All paed hospitals will have a team responsible for play therapy, they should have some other options, but seriously, I’d imagine it will be screens for the bulk of it.

Make sure you get good breaks as well, swap with DH/partner/other relative for some stretches to recharge yourself at home and get a decent sleep in your own bed.

PLEASE don't use bubbles in the hospital room especially if there are other kids in the same room! Other children can be allergic to them and if they are feeling gross then they don't want additional smells/liquids everywhere. It's also not a good idea to have soapy slippery liquid landing on the floor! By all means use them if you are able to take him in a wheelchair outside, but don't use them inside the hospital!!

My friends just had this issue with their little toddler who needed a brand new hip (yup) - he was in a full body cast so he couldn't move AT ALL. Very difficult fo him and his folks. They let him use screens as much as he wanted, and also got him educational interactive screen stuff so he could actually benefit from them. Worked great. Get him some nice big comfy over ear headphones so he can use his tablet etc without bothering any other kids in the area.

It's very important in wards with multiple kids to remember that they all have different sleep schedules and some can be feeling utterly dreadful - so please try to keep entertainment somewhat quiet - unless the "play team" etc are there entertaining all the children.

Screen, 100%. Yeah yeah, books, stickers, magnatiles, Lego (my 3 yo is just getting into Lego) - but what about when you want some headspace OP? Not all screens are created equal. Theres plenty of quality things for preschoolers and even if he wants to watch rubbish, you’re in hospital, that’s fine. I’d want to watch telly if I was in hospital tbh.

My child was in traction with a broken femur for 4 weeks when he was 4. We had play therapist sometimes which was helpful and gave me a break to have a shower, but I admit we watched a lot of films.

DH and I are hoping to come and be with him in shifts, and we’re lucky that my PILs also live nearby and are able to help out, but we also have 2 other DC, one older one younger, so it’s going to be tricky! But I work nights and DH works days so it’s likely to be me here for the bulk of the time, at least during the day.

Your poor son, that sounds incredibly tough for both of you. Things that my 3 year old likes that might work:

• magnet tiles (the mideer ones are very robust and good quality).
• magnet story books (like this: There are loads of options depending on his interests)
• maze/puzzle books (He can just use his finger if the pen is too hard)
• eye spy books (Like this)
• beads or other small craft activities that he can easily lift (Beads, playdoh etc)
• Games for toddlers that you can hold up for him (Snap, Memory games, eye spy), you might need to alter the rules a bit to make it easier to play lying down.
• sticker books- the Usborne ones are great
• using small toys and figures that he can easily lift to tell stories or play games
• Duplo can be easily lifted or he can tell you where to put the pieces and discuss ideas with you
• Mini Yoto (although they’re expensive it might be worth it)
• Books for counting and letters- my son likes to practice and also use his finger to ‘draw’ the letters and numbers.

A lot of the options are just making books more interesting and interactive.

If you speak to the nurses then they might have suggestions of things that have worked well for other patients (they’ll have cared for other kids in a similar situation) or there might be a play therapist who can help with ideas and resources.

Also, don’t feel bad about resorting to a lot of screen time. It’s a difficult situation and you can make it more interactive by discussing what he’s watching with him.

I think you need to accept lots of screen time. He is going to be in pain and probably rather frightened. It's not the time to worry about screen time. Oh and gey off your phone and mumsnet for the duration of his recovery so you can feel just how boring it is for him. Solidarity as they say.

Are you planning to come to hospital round your work shifts? When will you sleep?

Another vote for screens. It is tricky balancing what you would do at home and what needs to be done at the hospital. There are plenty of educational videos and audio-books, so you can also go for quality, if you have the energy and if it interests you DC.

After every hospital visit, we do need to wean off devices, but they are invaluable in the hospital.

All the very best for you and your DC.

I’ve looked after heaps of kids in traction. They absolutely can move. And by the end, the only thing keeping them in the bed is the traction! Usually they are too scared to move at first. But once the pain settles they are very mobile. Do not let him play with scissors unsupervised, we had a toddler cut his traction.

Also absolutely nothing wrong with bubbles in hospital.

Teach him to read and count and colours. Sounds insane but honestly it fills the time and won’t hurt him.

The Works do some great travel games which could work including one called “What Am I?”. Keeps my little one busy.
How about play doh, Duplo, stickle bricks, Magna tiles or colouring books,

Little plays and stories using his soft toys.
Glove puppets
Finger puppets

Presuming from your OP, did the poor child break his femur? It must be a major break anyway if he can't move. In this situation, just accept there will be more screen time. He can make up for lost time when he's more mobile again.
@Caligirl80 I can't see a few bubbles here and there doing any harm, I imagine the play team will do that with a supervised session so no other children are put to any harm 🙄

Oh poor you and your DS, that sounds so difficult. I'll echo PPs and say please don't worry about screen time, get some decent comfy headphones and let him watch as much as he likes!

If you both need a break from screens though, Flying Tiger does lots of little travel games and toys for just a few pounds each (my nearly 3 year old DS loves their flying sharks). We're also big fans of picture books like Wimmelbooks, and their My Little Wimmelbook range are small enough that he may be able to hold them by himself even lying down. Or what about making up some small photobooks with pictures of family/friends/pets/etc from somewhere like Snapfish?