What to take for a stay on children’s ward with a baby?

[AwkwardAsAllGetout]

Dd is 5 months old and is being admitted for observation tomorrow after lots of digestive problems. While I’m glad we’re fjnally being taken seriously, I’m really quite worried about the reality of being there. I’ve been told to expect to be there for at least 2 nights. I’m still breastfeeding her, and she currently co sleeps as it’s be only way we get any rest as she screams so much. I’m really worried about the practicalities of trying to sleep on the ward, and her keeping the other babies or children awake. What do I actually need to take? I’m drawing a total blank. I’m assuming I’ll need to take good for myself, and clothes and nappies for her, but what might I be forgetting? Any words of advice?

Lots of snacks/food/drinks for you. I've found when I've been in hospital with a similar baby (b/fed cosleeper) that I couldn't get away for food and got really hungry. Also if you like your coffee, take some bottles of premade iced coffee too as you probably won't be allowed hot drinks on the ward.

Also Tooth brush/wet wipes/change of clothes for you/ magazine/tablet etc.

Clothes for you.
Shower things and a towel
Phone charger
Kindle / book / crossword puzzles
Money for vending machines
Drinks
Pad and pen (you may have questions and rather than remember you can write them as you think of them)
Teddy/blanket (if DD has one)

Your normal changing bag contents, but more of everything. A wash kit for you, hand cream because of the disinfectant and loads of snacks. I’d also take a sling in case you end up having to go for a walk to get your baby to sleep.

I hope it goes well and you get some answers.

Charger for phone and warm clothes ( I was shocked at how cold the wards are at night and I have had lots of stays)
But yes food, snacks, spare clothes, magazines, and wet wipes etc

Hope all is ok

I was allowed to co-sleep once (sides up on bed - probably safer than our bed at home) and another time I was in a camp bed right next to DS so he could go to sleep with me lying right there. Both hospitals (London) gave free/patient meals to breastfeeding mothers.

Headphones! If there's a TV by the bed you have to use headphones at night and you can guarantee they'll have run out!

Washing things for you including a towel.
Phone and charger
Pen and notebook
Money
Decent teabags or coffee
Book
iPad with programmes downloaded.
Earplugs
Something respectable to sleep in - pjs rather than a mini nightdress
Any tablets you take regularly
Pillow without a plastic cover.

There’s usually somewhere you can go to make a drink and have five minutes out.
Babies cry on children’s wards. Don’t worry about it.

thank you all x good tip about it being cold, I’d assumed it would be boiling like labour ward was. I feel the cold awfully as it is (currently in bed feeding with a hot water bottle!) so I’ll take that with me and some warm socks and a jumper. Do you think I’ll be allowed to bring her pram so we can go for walks if we need to, or would it be in the way? I used a sling for all my others but my back is still really messed up from pregnancy this time and I simply can’t carry her for long

I wouldn't if it's a ward @AwkwardAsAllGetout , there's very little space around the beds. Have you got a little fold up stroller you could take?

I was just coming to say that's a good list - and add that a MacLaren fold up stroller was a life saver for me. DS was 11 months so better suited to it but it meant we could tootle about once the drips came out and he sat in it whilst I went for a shower / food etc rather than having to leave him.

We were in the old alder hey and I walked miles around it with him!

Oh and a reusable coffee cup with lid they wouldn't allow any open cups on the ward

Hi @AwkwardAsAllGetout

I've spent a few nights on wards with my 8m DD and thought maybe a few suggestions might help:

• as others have said, definitely warm clothes for night & slippers
• re. The pram, when we stayed on the general paediatric ward they had prams we could borrow to take her for a walk and they were clean as they'd never been off the ward
• as you're a breastfeeding mum you should get 3 meals a day - make sure the staff know you're breastfeeding and not weaning so you don't get forgotten
• toys! But have one or two out at a time then when they get bored of one you can magically produce a new one!

Also, never worry about the crying, it's hard work and you'll get through it

Thank you all x it’s gone much better than I’d thought it would, there seem to be very few actual ‘wards’, one or two bays of 3 or 4 beds but mostly it’s individual rooms, which we’re in. And it’s hotter than the sun! I’d packed a coat in case I got cold walking around with her Typically now we’re here she’s calmed right down. They’re saying it’s likely multiple allergies and reflux. It’s a bit strange being here overnight when I feel a bit of a fraud now she’s not screaming anymore. Someone’s just come to do her obs and it just seems a bit surreal. We did bring the pram, and because we’re in a room there’s plenty of space. Like a pp, I’m glad I have somewhere safe to strap her in if I need the loo, or when I have a shower in the morning. I bought toys too, but there’s great rooms for playing, a sensory room which she loved, and a lovely outside space where she fell asleep looking at the trees. Several things I’m glad I bought, my own pillow and duvet (noones batted an eyelid about us co sleeping, it was almost just assumed that we would! I also bought the t shirt dh wore yesterday to pop beside her. And snacks. The sad little potato they bought me for dinner seems many an hour ago now and I’m glad of my bag of, admittedly shite, food. I also bought my travel mug which has been the olny way I’ve had a hot drink at all for the last 5 months. My special milk is in the parents fridge. I was dreading being here this time yesterday, but it’s really not too bad. And everyone we’ve seen has been lovely. Keeping fingers crossed we don’t have to stay too long tomorrow though.

Fingers crossed you won't be there too long op! Glad you're settling in well.
My DS was admitted for a week when he was 3 weeks old with a mystery infection. They gave us an individual room with a bed for me as I was also breastfeeding. Much like yourself, although they fed me 3 meals a day, when I was breastfeeding, I was constantly STARVING so snacks were a life saver.

I know a pp mentioned any medication you may take regularly. Can I also recommend some OTC medication like paracetamol, rennies etc. DH had the most banging headache one night and the ward couldn't give him anything. He would've had to go and sit in A&E. No shops were open and I couldn't leave DS. Such a small thing but it wasn't what we needed at an already stressful time! Anything you can do to make your stay more comfortable!

Always bring your pram. We only have a Mankey fold up stroller on the ward. We really don't like parents co sleeping with babies, but if you insist we can't stop you.

Didn't read the thread! I see you've already been in.