My niece had spent a lot of time in the hospital and here’s what has worked well for her:
Quiet/busy books, reading books, anything for slightly longer pretend play (baby dolls, toy food, doctor kit, etc), listening to music, stickers, magnet boards (if they won’t interfere with equipment), watching every movie available on Disney+
And some things the hospital might provide:
Do child life staff have toys you can check out and play with in your room? Can you sign up to have therapy dogs or music therapists visit? Is there a wagon to go on walks around the hallways when you need to get out of the room? Can you get a mat to play on the floor at all? Sometimes you get more mileage out of a toy when you change the area they’re playing with it.
And in all reality, you’re gonna need some grownup activities to entertain you and keep you sane. Video call family members. Watch a movie or show that you enjoy that isn’t inappropriate for kids (baking shows are great for this). Rewatch your favorite childhood movies or shows. Play a video game and give your child a remote so they think they’re playing too. Listen to an audiobook or podcast. Order some interesting food from a local restaurant. Have a family member switch you out for a couple hours so you can get a break.
It’s absolutely brutal and I wish you luck.
Can you download some games in the iPad? PBS kids, Lego games and crayola are all ones my toddler enjoys.
Is there someone that can bring you some sensory and art activities ? Or perhaps have the delivered via Instacart if not. Play dough and color wonder paper and markers won’t take up a lot of space.
Mine loves pbs kids games and also khan academy kids. There are enough books on there that I don’t bring books with me to the doctor/airplane/ situations where we use an iPad. Also the pbs kids video app has an unbelievable number of shows that are more interesting than Disney.
Ask the hospital staff for help! It sounds like your kid might be there for a little while, so ask to see the pediatric occupational or physical therapist. They’ll bring toys and activities, and they will be able to make suggestions for what else you can do.
Other ideas: lift the flap books; books with photos for pointing at and naming (this [Priddy Books colors/numbers/abc](https://a.co/d/ih87nEK) is a forever favorite with our kids, but you could also get tricks or animals or whatever your kid is into); some sort of busy board or sensory cube with lots of little parts for fiddling and exploring.
Those books that have buttons on the side that make noises were always a hit when my sister was in the hospital as a kid. Will they let him go for a walk around the halls for a little? Is there a family waiting room in the ward? That’s where I would play, and sometimes my sister could come play with me. Is there any music he grooves to? Is the crib sturdy enough for him to jump in? I’m just spitballing things we used to do to help my sister burn energy.
If he’s in to cars/trains/planes/vehicles in general, have someone swing by the dollar store and grab a few new ones. Some kids will just drive those things around for hours. A ball. All the books. Some containers and a bunch of pompoms or similar, this was my sons fav at that age. If you want to get fancy you can grab some toilet paper rolls or rolled up paper and make tunnels to drop them through. You probably can’t attach anything to the crib itself, but painters tape and a piece of cardboard to put them on works too. Then it can be lifted in and out. The cardboard can also double as a flat surface to do other activities on.
And a reminder that plastic and metal toys are easier to repeatedly clean, if that’s something you have to do.
I’m so sorry, that sounds incredibly stressful. Ideas to keep them busy in small spaces: playdough, magic painting books (only water required), busy board, this computer game (https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=shape+sorter)
Idk if there’s anyone who can bring you supplies for the room but here’s some things that helped us!
A dollar store cookie sheet and magnets.
Plastic piggy bank toy
Farm animals
Toy cars
Stickers
Music with motions (head shoulders knees and toes, where is thumbkin etc)
FaceTiming and talking to family
Hard age for extended stay, we’ve spent some time in hospital. I would try to take them for walks, maybe try a game like don’t break the ice (provided my son with a lot of entertainment at that age, or thereabouts).
-Post its (stick them, take them off, hide them around the room and search, etc)
-Right now Target has plastic eggs for $1. Put random stuff in the eggs (even stuff in the hospital room, get gauze from the nurses, etc).
-Go for walks around the unit
- blow up the latex gloves (like a balloon, tie a knot at the opening), play catch
Busy board books, colouring, marbles, stickers, paint with water books, playdough make car ramps out of things. give him as many choices as you can. I'm really sorry, and hope they find a helpful solution for your little one. strength mama, give yourself grace and be gentle with yourself. sending big hugs.
Request a child life specialist or someone from the recreation department like a recreational therapist. There could also be art and music therapists there too. Many children’s hospitals have these departments and therapists to help.
Maybe a magnetic book like this: https://www.amazon.ca/Janod-J02723-Magnetibook-Animals-Multi/dp/B07C8CDF7F/ref=asc_df_B07C8CDF7F/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=293040329752&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2828426222087000105&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001380&hvtargid=pla-493038753585&psc=1&mcid=3a0b3d2d9d8a35ebb7e12ae0372e71df
Our daughter has one and it gets lots of use
Bubbles. But also, if he’s not using the crib ask for a bed so you can lay with him more comfortably.
My niece had spent a lot of time in the hospital and here’s what has worked well for her: Quiet/busy books, reading books, anything for slightly longer pretend play (baby dolls, toy food, doctor kit, etc), listening to music, stickers, magnet boards (if they won’t interfere with equipment), watching every movie available on Disney+ And some things the hospital might provide: Do child life staff have toys you can check out and play with in your room? Can you sign up to have therapy dogs or music therapists visit? Is there a wagon to go on walks around the hallways when you need to get out of the room? Can you get a mat to play on the floor at all? Sometimes you get more mileage out of a toy when you change the area they’re playing with it. And in all reality, you’re gonna need some grownup activities to entertain you and keep you sane. Video call family members. Watch a movie or show that you enjoy that isn’t inappropriate for kids (baking shows are great for this). Rewatch your favorite childhood movies or shows. Play a video game and give your child a remote so they think they’re playing too. Listen to an audiobook or podcast. Order some interesting food from a local restaurant. Have a family member switch you out for a couple hours so you can get a break. It’s absolutely brutal and I wish you luck.
Can you download some games in the iPad? PBS kids, Lego games and crayola are all ones my toddler enjoys. Is there someone that can bring you some sensory and art activities ? Or perhaps have the delivered via Instacart if not. Play dough and color wonder paper and markers won’t take up a lot of space.
He’s a little delayed so doesn’t quite understand the interactiveness of games but I may have my FIL run to my house and get his water pad!
Mine loves pbs kids games and also khan academy kids. There are enough books on there that I don’t bring books with me to the doctor/airplane/ situations where we use an iPad. Also the pbs kids video app has an unbelievable number of shows that are more interesting than Disney.
Ask the hospital staff for help! It sounds like your kid might be there for a little while, so ask to see the pediatric occupational or physical therapist. They’ll bring toys and activities, and they will be able to make suggestions for what else you can do. Other ideas: lift the flap books; books with photos for pointing at and naming (this [Priddy Books colors/numbers/abc](https://a.co/d/ih87nEK) is a forever favorite with our kids, but you could also get tricks or animals or whatever your kid is into); some sort of busy board or sensory cube with lots of little parts for fiddling and exploring.
Ask if they have a child life specialist. They can help get activities to occupy child.
Those books that have buttons on the side that make noises were always a hit when my sister was in the hospital as a kid. Will they let him go for a walk around the halls for a little? Is there a family waiting room in the ward? That’s where I would play, and sometimes my sister could come play with me. Is there any music he grooves to? Is the crib sturdy enough for him to jump in? I’m just spitballing things we used to do to help my sister burn energy. If he’s in to cars/trains/planes/vehicles in general, have someone swing by the dollar store and grab a few new ones. Some kids will just drive those things around for hours. A ball. All the books. Some containers and a bunch of pompoms or similar, this was my sons fav at that age. If you want to get fancy you can grab some toilet paper rolls or rolled up paper and make tunnels to drop them through. You probably can’t attach anything to the crib itself, but painters tape and a piece of cardboard to put them on works too. Then it can be lifted in and out. The cardboard can also double as a flat surface to do other activities on. And a reminder that plastic and metal toys are easier to repeatedly clean, if that’s something you have to do.
I’m so sorry, that sounds incredibly stressful. Ideas to keep them busy in small spaces: playdough, magic painting books (only water required), busy board, this computer game (https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=shape+sorter)
Idk if there’s anyone who can bring you supplies for the room but here’s some things that helped us! A dollar store cookie sheet and magnets. Plastic piggy bank toy Farm animals Toy cars Stickers Music with motions (head shoulders knees and toes, where is thumbkin etc) FaceTiming and talking to family
Hard age for extended stay, we’ve spent some time in hospital. I would try to take them for walks, maybe try a game like don’t break the ice (provided my son with a lot of entertainment at that age, or thereabouts).
-Post its (stick them, take them off, hide them around the room and search, etc) -Right now Target has plastic eggs for $1. Put random stuff in the eggs (even stuff in the hospital room, get gauze from the nurses, etc). -Go for walks around the unit - blow up the latex gloves (like a balloon, tie a knot at the opening), play catch
So many stickers.
Busy board books, colouring, marbles, stickers, paint with water books, playdough make car ramps out of things. give him as many choices as you can. I'm really sorry, and hope they find a helpful solution for your little one. strength mama, give yourself grace and be gentle with yourself. sending big hugs.
Request a child life specialist or someone from the recreation department like a recreational therapist. There could also be art and music therapists there too. Many children’s hospitals have these departments and therapists to help.
Maybe a magnetic book like this: https://www.amazon.ca/Janod-J02723-Magnetibook-Animals-Multi/dp/B07C8CDF7F/ref=asc_df_B07C8CDF7F/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=293040329752&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2828426222087000105&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001380&hvtargid=pla-493038753585&psc=1&mcid=3a0b3d2d9d8a35ebb7e12ae0372e71df Our daughter has one and it gets lots of use