12 Awesome And Uplifting Gift Ideas For Kids In Hospital

It's unfair that any child should have to endure the ordeal of a stay in hospital, but if they do a fun gift can help them get through it.

The thought of our kids getting injured or becoming so sick that they need hospital treatment is every parents worst nightmare. 

As not only are we worried sick at the thought of our little ones going through something so terrible.

We also feel totally powerless to help them, when as parents all our instincts are screaming at us to protect them.

And while it's tough on us, it's really not fair on them either.

That they are having health issues at their young age, when they should be outside having fun with their friends and without a care in the world.

So, if your children, or those of your friends and family, have to spend some time in hospital, it's a nice idea to treat them to something that will help them through it.

Now I'll assume that you've already thought of the obvious things to get for your child during their hospital stay, such as:

And instead focus this list of gift ideas for kids in hospital on the non-essentials.

Because while not being essential, these gifts are all extremely useful and will play their part in helping your child to get better as quickly as possible.

Gifts That Kids In Hospital Really Want

It's important that you help your child feel safe, secure and comfortable when they are recovering in the hospital, as this is a scary and strange environment for them to be in.

So any gift that can do this is a real winner for them and for you.

And you also need to keep them entertained and occupied with something they can use or play with.

As this will take their minds off their health problems and make their time in hospital fly by. 

So, take a look at the following gift ideas for kids in hospital that will cover all of these things and more.

1. A Comfort Blanket To Keep Them Calm

Hospitals can be frightening and unsettling places for kids, especially when visiting hours are over and their parents have gone home for the night.

And this can leave them feeling scared, vulnerable, and upset at a time when they need to feel the exact opposite to be able to recover.

So this is where a comfort blanket can be invaluable for infants and toddlers.

As having a blanket they feel comfortable with gives them something safe and warm to cling to when they're feeling scared and vulnerable.

And the warmth and security this provides can help them to relax and be at peace with the situation.

So a gift of a comfort blanket for your young one to use in the hospital is a great idea, as it'll make them feel a bit more at home and protected.

And one that does this job perfectly is the Aden & Anais Dream Blanket.

As this is soft to the touch and cosy for your child, while also looking really nice too. 

And if you can, it's a good idea to give the blanket to them a few weeks before they go into the hospital.

As this way they'll get used to using it at home in comfortable surroundings.

Which will make it easier for them to transition into the hospital when the time comes.

2. A Plush Toy To Cuddle Up To For Comfort

A cuddly toy can do a similar job to a comfort blanket but for slightly older infants.

As this gives them something soft and cute to play with and cuddle up to when they're feeling a bit frightened and vulnerable.

Because while they may be fine when you're by their side, once they're alone it can really get them down.

So a gift of a stuffed cuddly toy for them to play with can be invaluable, with one option being the Vermont Teddy Bear stuffed puppy toy above.

As this will provide them with some comfort and company until you return the following day.

And having a cuddly toy in bed with them can also help them to sleep better which is another important aspect of their recovery process.

3. Things To Draw, Sketch And Doodle On

You'll want to keep your child occupied and stimulated while they're in the hospital.

And a great way to do that is by giving them some things to sketch, doodle, and draw with.

As not only will this give them something fun to do, it'll also exercise the creative side of their brain.

Which can give them an outlet for some of the strong emotions they may be feeling and help them to relax.

So, a good quality sketch pad and a set of colouring pencils is a great gift for a kid in the hospital.

And if you are buying for a toddler, you could get them a doodle board like the one below instead. 

As this way they can use their imagination to draw whatever they like over and over again.

And with no mess or crayons and pieces of paper all over the place!

4. Something To Colour In To Take Their Mind Off Things

Young kids love to draw, but they also love to get their crayons and pencils out to colour things in.

Which means colouring in books are a fantastic gift idea for kids in the hospital for this reason alone.

As it will give them a fun activity to get absorbed in for a couple of hours.

However, they also bring other benefits too.

As colouring in has also been shown to be a very relaxing, satisfying, and calming activity for both children and adults alike.

Which may help to calm them down if they are feeling a bit nervous or frightened at being in the hospital as well.

So a couple of colouring books and some coloured pencils, felt tip pens, or crayons (like the ones below) will make for a really nice present.

And there are a whole range of themed colouring books you can go for, depending on their age and interests, from dinosaurs and spaceships to Peppa Pig, Super Mario, and Minecraft.

Or you could get them a multi-themed colouring book like the one above which has a wide variety of things to colour in.

5. Something To Build Or Create While They're Stuck In Hospital

Another way of indulging their creative side and keeping them occupied when in hospital is to give them something they can make or build with their hands.

As this can be really satisfying and rewarding for them.

And it can also work brilliantly for taking their minds off any worries and helping them forget their surroundings for a while.

So, things like Lego sets or Play Doh are great gift ideas depending on their age and interests.

And you could also look into things like craft sets, which will help them learn new skills, indulge hobbies, and create new things from scratch. 

6. Puzzles To Keep Them Occupied

You'll also want to make sure they have things to keep them mentally stimulated while they're in the hospital.

Because if you allow them to get bored and restless, they will start to worry about the situation they're in and become upset.

So, having something challenging to focus on will help them to switch off and stay calm instead.

Which means you should consider getting things like activity books, puzzle books, and crossword puzzles for them to get stuck into.

While a Rubik's cube or a jigsaw puzzle are also good ideas if they're not into the other things so much.

7. Books To Read For Your Little Bookworm

If your kid loves to read, then a series of books they love can be a great gift to keep them occupied as they recuperate.

As this will instantly transport them away from the stale and sterile hospital atmosphere to a fantasy land of their choice.

And there are plenty to choose from depending on their age and interests.

For instance, you could get them books from the 'Harry Potter' series if they haven't already got them, which are pretty good for kids of all ages.

Or there is the 'Artemis Fowl' series by Eoin Collifer, which follows the adventures of a 12 year old criminal mastermind that gets himself into plenty of mischief.

Perfect for any little rascals!

The books in Terry Pratchett's 'The Wee Free Men' series on the other hand are a fantastic journey into a fantasy world seen through the eyes of a young witch called Tiffany Aching.

And these will really get their imaginations going.

While Diana Wynne Jones' 'Howl's Castle' series are also full of adventure, magic, wizards and witches.

And with important messages and lessons to be learnt inside them.

So, the first book in any series that you think they'll enjoy is the perfect gift idea.

Because if they like it, they'll be desperate to get their hands on the next one in the set.

Which will make your next gift choice an easy one!

8. A Handheld Games Machine For The Young Gamers

If your kid isn't much of a reader but is an avid gamer, then how about getting them a handheld games machine instead?

Because they'll really miss their PS4 or Xbox while they're in the hospital.

Which means they'll love having one of these machines to play in their hospital bed.

As this way they can still get their gaming fix and you can avoid the moaning that withdrawal from video games can bring!

And these devices are brilliant for keeping them occupied and in good spirits too.

But beware before splashing out, as kids are notoriously loyal to their favourite games and consoles.

So it's always best to check with them first to see which one they really want.

But if that's not possible, a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo 2DS XL are popular choices and would usually be welcomed with open arms.

9. Games They Can Play With The Other Kids

Kids make new friends easily.

And the one benefit of being in hospital is they will be surrounded by other kids on their ward that they can befriend and play with.

Which is great for keeping them happy and occupied during the day, and will make their time in hospital much more fun and enjoyable.

So why not get them some toys and games that they can share and play with their new friends?

As things like board games, Connect 4, a pack of UNO cards, or a Jenga set are perfect for bringing them all together.

And this will help them all to recover faster and make their hospital experience less of a pain.

10. A Journal To Help Them Express Their Feelings

Spending time in hospital is tough for anyone, so you can imagine how hard it can be for children.

And even though our kids are tougher and more resilient than we give them credit for, being ill and stuck in such an unfamiliar and scary environment can bring out some strong emotions in them.

So, our final gift idea for kids in hospital is something that lets them express their feelings and release any negative emotions that may be worrying them.

And they can do this by using a journal.

As this gives them a private space to put their thoughts, feelings, and worries down on paper, rather than leaving them to fester inside and cause harm.

So, you could go for a plain journal that they can fill with their thoughts each day, such as the 'Unicorn Journal & Sketchbook'.

Or you could get them a journal that also has prompts for them that are designed to foster a positive attitude, such as the 'You Got This' Journal instead. 

But either way, a journal makes a really thoughtful and useful gift.

Because it's so important to also protect their mental and emotional well-being while they're recovering their physical health.   

11. All The Fun Stuff In One Ready-Made Gift Box

If you're struggling to narrow your gift choice to keep your child entertained and occupied while in hospital down to just one, why not get them a gift box full of goodies instead?

As this way they'll have a wide variety of things to play with, and never run out of activities to do.

And to make it super easy for us, Open The Joy have created a selection of Feel Better Kits that are perfect for kids in hospital.

As these are gift boxes that contain pretty much everything a child in hospital could possibly want, such as paint pots and brushes, drawing stencils, markers and coloring posters, modelling putty, magic tricks, playing cards, a finger puppet, and more.

And as they've been created by a Mom who has experience of having her own child hospitalized for months at a young age, and in consultation with child therapists and pediatricians, everything inside has been specially chosen to help them recover during their hospital stay. 

So a Feel Better Kit makes for an ideal gift for a sick child in hospital, and for every one they sell, Open The Joy will donate a toy to a hospitalized child in America as well.

Which means you'll also be helping others with this gift.

12. A Cool Hospital Gown That Also Helps Many Other Children In Need

Not every seriously ill child has the good fortune to have a loving family that can buy them things to help them through their time in hospital.

So this final gift idea of the Captain Starlight gown for your little one is a really special one.

Because not only will your child get a really cool looking gown to wear that will make them feel more comfortable, safe, and at home in the hospital.

As you are purchasing this gown from the Starlight Children's Foundation, they will use this money to help provide for other less fortunate children in over 800 hospitals and health care facilities throughout the United States.

They do this by providing kids in hospital with access to things like the aforementioned hospital gowns, video games, toys, books, arts and craft supplies, and even virtual reality headsets.

Which adds some much needed fun, distraction, and happiness to a child's hospital stay that can greatly help them on their road to recovery.

And every dollar they make through donations and the gifts they sell will go towards giving seriously ill children and their families comfort in their time of need.

So why not buy a gown, or alternatively make a donation to them through the link here, to help them carry out this great work.

After all, what can be more important than helping the little ones get through their time in hospital and hopefully on their way to better health.

Rounding Up

Seeing your child in hospital isn't a nice thing for any parent to go through.

But you can make their time in there a little easier on them by buying them a gift that can help them feel more safe, secure, and comfortable.

And make sure you get them something fun to pass the time with as well.

As this will keep them occupied and take their mind off being in such a strange and unfamiliar environment.

And the gift ideas for kids in hospital that I've given you here will all prove useful in one way or another.

Helping them to rest, relax, and get back home with you in the fastest time possible.