Hospital stays are hard, especially when it lasts more than a few days. The days feel long when we can’t leave our room due to being hooked up to a bunch of machines. It’s difficult when my kids aren’t allowed to eat, are really sensitive to strangers, and can’t move around too much. Plus, the rest of our family is at home together. We’ve had numerous hospital stays in the past few years, the longest being 10 days. Whether it’s a planned visit for a surgery or an impromptu stay after visiting the doctor. Here are some ways on how to survive hospital stays.

1. Take Breaks
-It’s really good for us to leave the room whenever possible. I like to wheel my kids around in the wagon or get something to eat or go outside. There are usually playrooms with books and toys that they can play with. Sometimes they aren’t allowed to leave though, and I don’t like leaving my kids alone in their room. If leaving isn’t possible, I ask the nurse to be with them while I get a refresher. I’m usually the one who stays the night with them during the week and then my husband takes over on the weekends when he’s off from work. It’s nice for me to go home and be with my family and refresh in that way as well.

2. BYO…Everything
-Hospital food can get pricey after a few days and sometimes may not be the best in quality. I stock up on some snacks for throughout the day and take advantage of the nourishment rooms. Most of the time there are refrigerators in the community rooms, so I can put leftovers or frozen foods in there. I also bring my own toiletries, because the hospital doesn’t always have everything you need. I keep it to a minimum with diapers and wipes because those things are usually provided. And then they give you everything you don’t use at the end, which is really helpful.

3. Comfort first
-I try to make my kids as comfortable as possible by bringing things that are familiar to them like their own toys and blankets. It also gives them something to do when they get bored. They don’t like strangers and cry everytime they have to do vitals, so distracting them with things they already know and like helps immensely. I make sure to hold them while the nurse takes their blood pressure so they don’t get too upset. By the end of their stay, they are usually used to it, but sometimes I still need to comfort them. In addition, when they can’t eat, are in pain, or stuck in their room, distractions help take their mind off hunger and discomfort.

4. Be in the know
-It’s really important to me that I’m aware of everything going on with my kid’s care while in the hospital.  So many things are happening during a hospital stay from new medications to multiple doctor’s coming in and out to understanding new information. I write down everything in a journal so I know who I talked with, who made certain diagnoses, who gave medication, and just their overall visit. I make sure to ask questions when I don’t understand something and if something seems off it’s important that I stand up for them. I am my kid’s biggest advocate and I know them and how they act better than anyone.

5. Visitors
-I like when people visit my kids in the hospital, but we try to keep it to a minimum at certain times. The hospitals I’ve been to won’t even allow more than three people in the room at once and even then it’s sometimes a lot. When my kids have just had a surgery and are in pain, we try to limit the number of visitors, because they’re probably going to be sleeping most of the time anyway. When they are awake and happy, they enjoy having other people in the room with them. It’s nice for me as well to have a little company and someone else to talk to.