Child on hospital

[ChildinHospital]

We have a child in hospital and need to be there to support 24/7 in shifts. We have two little ones at home.

Partner and I are both on leave from work. Any creative ideas on where I can source overnight care for child in hospital? Just need to be there while they sleep so we can sleep and manage the 18 hours we need to split between hospital and home.

We just did this for a month - but can’t manage and other two months just on our own.

If you or DH are unable to stay, have you spoken to the ward staff?

Can the parent staying with the child in hospital sleep next to the bed or does ward DC is on/care needed prevent this?

If DC needs care overnight, the hospital should be providing it.

Having outside staff care for children on wards can be complex and needs approving by the hospital. Or at least has done in our case (we didn’t leave DC with them overnight but some of their care team came in to provide continuity of care and education) and a couple of other cases I know of in different hospitals. I don’t know if this just applies to care staff and HCPs or if it applies to all hospitals.

Finding care for DC at home so you and DH can swap caring for DC in hospital either every 12 hours/every few days/every week (whatever works for you - sometimes swapping too often is more difficult) will be easier.

When I posted about how to cope with hospital stays I was sagely advised to get a night nanny to just come and do all the night time cares. Sorry you’re going through this, it is so difficult. Have you spoken to the nurses about your situation? At the hospital my LG stays at, they are understanding if a parent cannot be in overnight because they have caring responsibilities for other children. Or do you mean you don’t want I leave your child overnight?

@ChildinHospital how are you all coping now? Sounds like a really stressful situation to be in

Hi @TinyMouseTheatre - first night tonight of our sitter going in. She’s a third year nursing student so trained, vetted and knows our daughter.

We have some of the bank health care assistants signed up for some nights. They know our daughter and she enjoys playing / engaging with them so confident if she woke she’d settle with them overnight.

@Throwingitallaway24 - she needs overnight care with nappies and some company so I’d not want her left. We did when a neonate but not now she’s fully aware of all!

It’s been super tough but we have some respite & she’s doing better which eases the mental load. It is tough - but my mantras are one day at a time & it won’t always be like this!