A health emergency is never a pleasant surprise, especially if it involves your kids. Parents surely know the agony of seeing their child in pain and feeling helpless to alleviate whatever discomfort or aches they’re going through. You’d want the ordeal to be finished as soon as possible so that you and your little one can go back home.
Unfortunately, you might not get the quick service that you desire, especially if there are other more severe cases in the emergency room (ER). Knowing this, one of the things that you should prepare when you go to the hospital is how to entertain your child while you’re waiting to talk with the doctor.
Here are some ways that can help you:
1. Go To A Children’s Hospital
If you still have the time to choose a hospital to go to, opt for a dedicated children’s hospital in your area. These institutions have specialists in their pediatric ERs. They’re specifically trained for diagnosing kids’ health issues as well as patient handling.
This means that they know the questions to ask that your child can understand. This way, they can accurately get to the root of the problem and provide the best treatment option for your kid. Additionally, these hospitals have child-sized equipment for the comfort of young patients.
If your kid’s condition is critical, you should rush to the nearest available hospital in your area. You can expect round-the-clock care and specialized equipment from emergency rooms, so there’s no need to worry.
Aside from toys and things that can entertain your kids, these are the essential items that you should bring along when you visit the ER:
- Clothes – Make sure to pack a set of loose, comfortable clothes. This is just in case the doctor asks you and your kid to stay for the night. They might need to monitor your child’s condition, so it’s best to be prepared.
- Medication – If your child has prescribed medications, you should bring them along for the ER doctor to check. This can help them get a more accurate idea of what medicine to give your child.
- Water Bottle – Bring a refillable water bottle so that you can keep your kid hydrated. This is particularly important if they’re scheduled to undergo surgery as they might become thirsty after the operation.
- Toiletries – Similar to clothes, it’s best to bring essential toiletries, like soaps and shampoos. The hospital may also provide other toiletries, like tissues and cotton, so you won’t need to bring these items.
- Personal Devices – Your phone is crucial for communication, so make sure that you bring it as well as the charger. If you feel that you’ll be staying in the hospital for a few days, you can also pack your laptop and tablet so that you and your kid can watch movies or YouTube videos. Audio players can also alleviate boredom.
- List of Important Details – Keep a list of insurance details, important contact information, and IDs. If your child has a fever, bring the notebook that contains their temperature or medication record for the recent days.
2. Watch a Movie
As mentioned above, you can bring your laptop or tablet to watch a movie with your kid. It’s even better if you’re able to stream their favorite films. At the very least, you can watch animated videos with them.
Rotten Tomatoes created a list of the top 100 movies in the kids and family genre. These are the five titles with the highest ratings:
- Toy Story 4 – The Toy Story franchise has captivated the hearts of both kids and parents all over the world. This sequel, which was released in 2019, tells of Woody’s life with Bonnie after Andy went off to college. There’s also a new toy named
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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