DD 11 weeks old being admitted, what do I take?

[Elednor]

Apologies if this has been posted lots before, I'm on my very slow phone and have to get going soon.

11 week old DD is being admitted for poor weight gain, we have tried for 8 weeks to pick it up with help of paediatrics but they have said they can't leave it any longer and she will be admitted for 2-3 days at least.

What do I bring? She is formula fed but I'm pretty sure they will be trailing the high energy milk on her, so should I just being a few cartons? Do I bring our cold water steriliser? She is on Dr brown bottles and they don't fit other sterilisers that we've seen! I'll bring spare sleepsuits, nappies, baby wipes, bottles and snacks, drinks,toothbrush, spare clothes, books and phone for me but is there anything else?

Thanks in advance!

You've covered most of it maybe a blanket or 2 that smells of home to keep her comforted. Take her usual formula with you as they may want to observe for a few days before they put her on diff formula or meds. Plenty of nappies and bottled water as I find I always get dehydrated when I had lil 1s admitted as couldn't have hot drinks on wards and would forget to drink.

They should have sterilisers there but since you've found your bottles don't fit in some you could take it with you and get someone to take it home later if the bottles fit in theirs.

Take a few cartons of ready made milk as you don't know if/when they'll start new milk and it costs extortionate prices in the hospital shop.

Take your own pillow and snacks that are quiet to open/eat as some children will be nil by mouth and its rubbish being next to someone you can hear eating crisps etc when you can't have anything.

Bottles water/drinks, iPod or MP3 player, tablet if you have one as its very boring being sat on a ward for a few days.

Cool clothes are good as children's wards are usually quite warm.

Headphones or earplugs for you!

They use disposable bottles (pre filled) and disposable teats. It may be a good idea to take your own nappies/wipes/wash/clothes etc. I'd take a pillow for you as these are scarce, some change for the vending machines/phone, some snacks and drinks too.

Food for you. When ds was admitted as a baby, parents were not fed. Hospital also had a room with all the stuff for parents to make up and sterilise bottles, apart from formula powder. But take your own cold water steriliser if you think your bottles could be a problem.

Hope your dd is ok soon. Horrible having a dc in hospital.

Warm blanket for you. I had to sleep on a fold out chair.

Hospitals should have sterilisers, the ones we've been in were milton cold water ones so anything fitted in them. Maybe take a few cartons of your normal formula, but hospitals do provide formula.

Take lots of baby grows and sleepsuits and nappies so that you aren't worried about running out. For you make sure you have lots of food and drink as I have nearly starved satying in with my ds as it can be difficult to leave them to get food. I would also take books, handcream, lip balm and anti-bac wipes.

I should have said, the moisturising things I suggested are because children's wards can be very hot and my skin always dries out in them.

Phone charger! Something to do/read when your baby is asleep.

Thanks everyone, great suggestions! Just on my way now but no signal in the hospital so no mumsnet for me!

Pram, so you can go for a walk with the ward's permission. We were allowed to do this when ds was not on a drip.

Money

You need money, preferably in change, and you need a lot of it.

Biscuits, for when you can't leave her to get some food.

Yur mobile charger.

Clean clothes for you.

Definitely your phone/charger and whatever you need to make sure you have access to MN for common sense and support.

Sending you lots of love and good wishes to get you through the next few days.

Good luck. Make sure they consider milk allergy as a potential cause. Often missed.