As soon as possible after admission, ask for a floor tour. Find out if a microwave and refrigerator are available, learn what the approved parent sleeping arrangements are, and ask about showers and bathtubs for both patients and parents. Ask about available laundry facilities. Obtain a hospital handbook if one is available. These booklets often include information about billing, parking, discounts, and other helpful items.

Many children’s hospitals have in-room or portable DVD players available. You can sign out DVDs from the hospital media library or bring from home a favorite funny movie or DVD of a TV show. Humor helps, so joke books and things that make kids laugh (such as Silly String®) are great items to pack. Most hospitals have wireless Internet for connection to social media for older children and adolescents. This keeps them connected to their friends at home and also provides a way to stream movies and other videos for children of all ages.

Although many hospitals provide brightly colored smocks for young patients, most children and teens prefer to wear their own clothing if at all possible. This can pose a laundry problem, so find out whether the hospital has laundry facilities for families to use.