Looking for a gift for someone in the hospital?
Here are some suggestions!
- You can’t light candles in most hospitals. So don’t buy candles. No matter how many DOZENS you’ll see in the gift shop. (Get a battery-operated candle if you want a candle.)
- Cozy sweaters, warm socks, or other layers are a great idea. Hospitals have notorious temperature changes.
- Funny cards or joke books are really fun.
- Stuffed animals might be cute, but I think they’re only really worth the investment if there’s a story behind the animal OR if it’s one of those you can heat up in the microwave.
- Holiday decorations for a hospital room can be fun and bring a little sense of tradition or normalcy, but I encourage you not to get/bring anything fancy or sentimental. Instead, focus on holiday decorations that are easy to throw away after the holiday.
- Little tabletop games, coloring books, and activity books (crosswords, logic puzzles, mazes, whatever it may be) are awesome, especially for folks who know they will be spending a lot of time in the hospital.
- Bright, beautiful flowers or balloons can add fun or beauty to a stark room.
- Magazines and easy-to-read books are wonderful.
- School- or work-related items are not generally a good default. I suggest you emphasize joy, beauty, and rest over work.
- Craft supplies are great.
- Gift cards for food (especially food delivery services) are fantastic. Or, a gift card for a cleaning service can be great for a family that is spending some time at home and some in the hospital.
What else would you add to a buy or do-not-buy list? Comment below!
Abby the Sociologist Doula 