What to Bring to the Hospital

Information on Your Child's Medications

Please bring a list of medications that your child is taking to the hospital.  To help us care for your child, keep your child’s list up to date, adding new medicines and deleting old ones. The medicine record should list:

• Why your child is taking the medicine
• The amount (or strength) of each medicine that your child takes
• How your child takes each medicine (pill, liquid, by mouth, or injection)
• Information on who ordered the medicine for your child
• Information on over-the-counter medications (aspirin, Tylenol, cold medicine, vitamins or herbs)
• Any allergies to medicine and food

If you are unable to create a list before coming to the hospital, bring all of your child's medicines, in their original bottles. 

Items from Home

Have your child help you pack their bag for the hospital.  Bring items from home to help your child feel more at ease and less afraid in the hospital.  Examples of items you might bring include (please label all belongings): 

• A favorite blanket or pillow
• Toys, books, games, and music
• Photos of family members and pets
• Audio or videotapes
• Glasses, hearing aids, crutches, braces
• Corrective shoes or other orthopaedic aids
• Slippers or socks
• Comfortable clothes and underwear (sweatshirts, sweatpants, and pajamas to sleep in)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Schoolwork, if appropriate
• Other personal items like (hairbrush, chapstick, etc.)

What Not To Bring

• Do not bring valuables, large sums of cash, or anything that cannot be replaced.
• Cellular phones can interfere with medical eqiupment and are not allowed in all clinical areas. Cell phones are allowed outdoors and in certain "Cell Safe" zones. Watch for the signs inside the hospital or ask your child’s nurse.
• Non-medical electrical items, such as video games, radios, or hair dryers. Please check with your child’s nurse first about any items that need to be plugged into a wall.
• Flowers and stuffed animals. These are discouraged for health reasons in certain patient units. Please check with your child’s nurse.
• Latex (rubber) balloons are a safety hazard and are not allowed.  Metallic Mylar® balloons are permitted.