Whether you’re preparing for a planned hospital stay or you have an emergency, it’s a good idea to take a hospital “go-bag” with you full of the essentials that you and your child will need. Here’s what we recommend:
Parent go-bag: comfy clothes, sleep mask, earplugs, chapstick, earbuds/headphones, phone charger, book/crossword, hot/cold cup, non-perishable snacks, toothbrush, change of clothes, favorite toiletries, a week’s worth of personal medication, small blanket, cash/gift cards for emergency money, slippers, wet wipes, notebook and pen, copies of important things like child’s medication list and diagnoses, doctor contact info, and action plan.
Child go-bag: extra clothes, toothbrush, extra food if they’re on specialized formula or diet, adaptive/personal hospital gowns, favorite small toys/items for entertainment, supplies for one to two nights (sometimes you spend the night in the ER and items aren't ordered quickly, so having a set of everything you need such as a feeding bag, formula, syringes, etc. is important), child’s favorite toiletries, and medication supply for two days in case there’s any issue with medical supplies/food.
For more information, see our full article How to Prepare for Your Child's Extended Hospital Stay.
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