Hospital bag

[FionaSH]

Does anyone have any tips of what to take in other than the obvious nappies, vests etc, for week long stay in hospital for a 6 month old?

Have so far had suggestions of DS's own highchair, and our own bottle brush for washing up - which were great ideas I hadn't thought of... any more??

Thanks!!

I would take the pram and a blanket to put over the front in case he won't nap in the cot during the day and you have to push him up and down corridors

also don't forget snacks, drinks etc for you - are you staying for the week too?

Thanks compo that's a good idea. We have a ward tour next week so I'll be able to guage how much space we'll get. DS has just started crawling, so it's going to be a nightmare....

Yes I get a bed by his cot, and DH get a room in hospital accomodation (or vice versa but I'm BF, so guess I get the noisy 44 bed ward!!!)

So sorry you are having to go in, hope it isn't too serious. I have done this twice in the last six months, these were the ones I wished someone had told me!

Bathroom wipes to clean the bath with, and your own towels for him (and you).

Washing up liquid for cleaning bottles, parents room not always well stocked

Some toys, but ones that can be easily swapped and washed in dishwasher at home.

Mobile with music and lights if you have one,if ds is going to be immobile at all.

Lots of snacks, books, sudoku or something for you....it is really boring, plus fully charged mobile phone! Eye mask and ear plugs for you too if you are sleeping there too, ooooo and a decent pillow.

Will probably think of more later.

if there's room you could put a travel cot up with lots of toys in it to keep him entertained (and let you nip to the loo knowing he's safe!)

hope he's ok and it's not for anything too major

I don't know what the cot is going to be like, so was thinking of taking his travel cot in for him to sleep in as he's used to it - and you're right compo, it could then double as a play pen.

sparklerainbow would never have thought of cleaning wipes until I got there and was like "I'm not putting him in there!" Thanks!! Have transcribed all these items onto my list - it's going to require more bags than it did when I went in to have him! I hope your LO is ok now.

He's having a cleft repair, so it is classed as major surgery, but not serious serious. IYSWIM.

BF means you should get your meals free, brought to you, or you collect them from the "trolley", that really makes a difference. The travel cot is a great idea, wish I had thought of that, mind you the cot my dd had was huge with huge sides.

When DD's been in they had a high-chair, toys, mobiles and the cot had very high sides which dropped down so play pen wasn't necessary. There was also a play room which the children could be taken to. They had separate rooms too (there were some 4 and 8 bedded wards which we were in the last time, but the 2 previous times we were in single rooms). I was also not allowed to wash the bottles(!), and they had to be taken by the nurse to wash in the milk kitchen (they would also have sterilised them if I'd asked)! I wasn't complaining...

Take your own stock of milk and food for DS if appropriate. I was bf overnight and ff during the day so had meals provided, but they weren't stunning! They had a very limited supply of baby-food which DD didn't like, so we took our own.

I made sure I had my mobile and Nintendo DS and both chargers and books. Also make sure you've got plenty to drink (I found it very hot, so got thirsty!).

Hope it goes well.

It depends on the hospital but you will normally not need to take:

High chair
Bottles
Teats
Formula (it may help if you do though but you may not need it)
toys
cot mobile

You will need:
Clothes
soother/blanket
wiped
nappies
things for you
change for the phone

Thanks FionaSH, the baby dd2 is fine now, but I still go in regularly with ds unfortunately.

We didn't get a cot mobile and it was so useful when we got one from home. I found the food all right, well, edible and someone else made it for a change!

There is a playroom in our hospital too, and they were good about me borrowing things for my ds, but I didn't do that for my dd2, as she was so little and I didn't want her to pick up a hospital infection, hence the "dishwasherable" (is that a word? Well it is now) toys.

It was very hot in there, I didn't need more than vests for the baby.

Good luck, if I think of anything else I will add it.