Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (2024)

*) The toys marked with a (*) were generously donated by the toy company in support of this toy drive benefitting the children in the CICU at Seattle Children’s Hospital. A heartfelt “THANK YOU” goes out to every donor, as they helped support my dream of brightening the lives of the children in the CICU, in honor of the 10th anniversary of our son’s long CICU stay. Donors: Creative QTBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (1), Goliath GamesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (2), LEGO BagsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (3), LEGO Watches & ClocksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (4), Innovation PressBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (5) and iPlay iLearnBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (6).

Whether you are buying a gift for your own child in the hospital, a grandchild or a friend’s child, it’s an emotional purchase.

I have been in your shoes. Our infant son was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (“PICU”) for the first two months of his life. Since he was discharged from the hospital ten years ago, I became an advocate for families affected by Pediatric Cardiomyopathy and Congenital Heart Defects.

I compiled this list of the top 20 toys for kids in the hospital by asking over 7,000 other heart families the simple question:

“What is the best gift your child received as a gift in the PICU.”

The answers overwhelmingly pointed to these 20 top gifts and I am sure the kid you are buying for will agree with these choices.

Things to consider when buying a gift for a child in the hospital:

  • The entertainment value of the toy
  • The child’s age
  • His interests
  • Any limitations he may have due to his medical condition
  • Whether he’s confined to a bed or a hospital room

Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (7)

Check out this list of the best gifts for kids in the hospital:

This toys list is geared towards toddlers through teens.

Shop the entire collection of “Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital!” here!

These toys are not listed in any particular order.

  • Open the Joy gift sets!
    • These boredom busters and entertainment kits are for kids of all ages and interests.
    • Everything is packaged ready to be gifted to a child or their siblings.
    • Open the Joy products are loved by Child Life Specialists at Children’s hospitals throughout the country.
    • LEGO bricksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (8) and LEGO-compatible baseplatesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (9):*
      • LEGO is the all-time classic toy. The entertainment value of a good LEGO set is out of this world. LEGO bricksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (10) and LEGO-compatible baseplates from Creative QTBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (11) are something kids of all ages will enjoy for hours. The possibilities are simply endless.
      • My favorite is these baseplatesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (12) for kids in the hospital. They can be used without adhering them to something, but it’s a great gift idea to buy a storage binBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (13)and stick the Creative QT baseplatesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (14) on the top and inside of the lid, to maximize storage and playability.
      • The sturdy baseplates from Creative QT are perfect for playtime in a hospital bed. They come in a broad range of colors and even in plates suitable for DUPLO-sized bricksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (15).
      • The best open-ended LEGO sets for kids are:
        • DUPLOBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (16) for the littlest ones (through preschool age).
        • These fun 3-in-1 LEGO setsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (17) have LOTS of playability as one set can be built into three different things – along with whatever the child creates using his imagination.
        • A basic box of LEGO bricks and wheelsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (18) is always a bit hit with boys and girls.
        • LEGO Technic Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (19)is fun for the older kids (through teenage years!)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (20)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (21)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (22)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (23)

    • Toy storageBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (24):*
      • When you are confined to a hospital bed/ room for a long period of time, it gets harder and harder to keep track of your trinkets and small toys. These awesome toy storage bags from LEGO BagsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (25) are great for kids of all ages.
      • The LEGO brick-shaped pouchesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (26)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (27) are great for cords, toiletries, make-up, small LEGO Minifigures, cars or art supplies.
      • The LEGO cinch bagBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (28) is perfect to give along with LEGO bricks Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (29)and baseplatesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (30), so you don’t end up stepping on the bricks in the middle of the night or worse yet, lose them in the hospital bed.
      • Kids of all ages love squirreling things away in bagsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (31) and pouchesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (32), which is why these colorful bags are sure to make a special child very happy.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (33)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (34)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (35)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (36)

    • LEGO Alarm clocksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (37):Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (38)*
      • These LEGO-themed alarm clocksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (39)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (40) are colorful and fun to look at, but they also serve a very practical purpose. Anyone who’s been in the hospital knows that within hours, you lose track of time, especially if you don’t have access to a window. Days blend into evenings and nights. Mornings only stand out because of shift-change and the doctors do rounds.
      • Help the little patient keep track of time as well as day and night. A cute LEGO alarm clockBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (41)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (42) that lights up will help keep them on a “somewhat” regular schedule, in spite of untimely blood draws and beeping machines.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (43)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (44)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (45)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (46)

    • Board games:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (47)*
      • The timeless classic board game will never go out of style or favor. Our favorite board game companies areGoliath GamesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (48)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (49) and PressmanBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (50). They have innovative, silly, and challenging games for kids of all ages.
      • Added benefits of a board game: it gives the adults sitting by the bedside something to do. Some board games help strengthen math skills, critical thinkingBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (51), languageBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (52) or even fine motor skillsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (53).
      • These are just some of our favorite games from Goliath GamesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (54) and PressmanBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (55), but trust that you cannot go wrong buying any of their games.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (56)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (57)
    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (58)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (59)
    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (60)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (61)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (62)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (63)

    • Craft kits:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (64)*
      • Craft kits are great for boys and girls alike. Often times, the hospital’s Child Life Specialist has volunteers that may come sit with the patients and doing crafts is always a great way to connect and pass the time.
      • Beads and jewelry making kitsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (65) are fun and a wonderful way for patients to make gifts for their nurses and the other patients.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (66)
    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (67)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (68)Shop the entire collection of “Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital!” here!

    • PuzzlesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (69):Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (70)*
      • There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to fun ways to pass time. Making a puzzleBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (71)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (72) is great for kids of all ages and it’s a toy that can be used again and again.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (73)
    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (74)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (75)

    • Books:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (76)*
      • It goes without saying that books are great gifts for kids in the hospital. But it’s often hard to find books that span across several age groups and interests.
      • The Zoey and Sassafras seriesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (77) does just that.
        • There is a science element to each of the stories, so it’s perfect for kids who like STEM, learning, and exploring the world. There are elements of magic and imagination as well, so the stories appeal to boys and girls, preschoolers through tweens.
        • I have read these books aloud to our youngest boys and our older ones read them independently.
      • Another popular book series, this one for the tween and older crowd are the books by Rick RiordanBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (78). Both girls and boys enjoy the mythical, magical, and historical aspects of his writing. These are great books to “get lost in.”

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (79)
    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (80)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (81)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (82)

    • Cars and car accessories:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (83)*
      • Things that go are always fun! These carsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (84) and the road tape from iPlay, iLearnBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (85) is a perfect way to convert a boring hospital room into a highway!
      • It’s also a great way to get a reluctant kid out of the bed and playing safely within the four walls of the hospital room.
      • Several of these setsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (86) were donated by iPlay iLearnBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (87). I can just imagine the smile on a little kid’s face when he gets it – and the hours of fun he can have, even in his bed.
      • The road tapeBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (88) is also perfect to use on top of the table that swings over the hospital bed.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (89)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (90)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (91)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (92)

    • Video games and gaming consoles:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (93)
      • If there’s one time in a child’s life that “screen time” isn’t a concern, let the hospital stay be it.
      • A lot of hospitals have video game consolesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (94) for the patients to use, but they are in high demand.
      • If you want to splurge and get a gaming system, the 3DSBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (95) is a nice handheld device and the individual gamesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (96) are reasonably priced.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (97)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (98)

    • Stickers:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (99)
      • What kid doesn’t like stickers? These adorable sticker booksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (100) are a fun way to create stories – and they are reusable. It’s perfect for independent play or together with an adult.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (101)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (102)Shop the entire collection of “Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital!” here!

    • Coloring books and activity books:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (103)
      • Activity booksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (104) are a great way to keep the young ever-expanding minds healthy while they are in the hospital and away from a formal school setting.
      • Coloring booksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (105) have been found to be therapeutic and relaxing for adults and children alike. They have fun coloring books for “kids” of all ages, so no need to limit these gifts for the younger crowd.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (106)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (107)

    • Art supplies:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (108)
      • Nothing makes you “escape reality” like letting the creativity flow. PaintsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (109), coloring pencilsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (110), scissorsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (111), craft paperBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (112). The art supplies don’t have to fancy. Actually, the more basic the better so the kid isn’t limited to making one specific creation.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (113)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (114)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (121)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (122)

    • Movies and headphones:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (123)
      • Escape the ever-beeping machines and the bright hospital lights by watching a good movieBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (124) – and if it’s really cool, I bet you anything it’s going to be watched again and again.
      • Kids of all ages love to become immersed in a good plot and forget everything that is going on around them, even if it’s just for a few hours at a time.
      • A good set of headphonesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (125) can also help to drown out the sounds around the hospital halls.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (126)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (127)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (132)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (133)

    • Collectible cards and accessories:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (134)
      • Remember when you were a kid, what kind of cards did you collect? Baseball cardsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (135)? Pokemon cardsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (136)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (137)?
      • Well guess what?! It’s still just as cool now as it was then! There’s nothing better than sorting and then re-sorting your card collection.
      • These plastic sleevesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (138) work perfectly in a 3-ring binderBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (139) and they will keep a growing card collection safe while in the hospital.
      • Our kids LOVE their Pokemon cardsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (140) – and their ages span from 4 to 12, so it’s really an ageless and timeless gift.
        • Besides, there’s a great card game attached to Pokemon cardsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (141), so it’s not “just” a pack of 10 cards, they also serve a purpose. Check out the Parent’s Guide to Pokemon the Card Game.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (142)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (143)

    • PlayDoh Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (144)and Kinetic SandBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (145):
      • Our kids, from toddlers to tweens, love when I pull out either the PlayDohBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (146) or Kinetic SandBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (147). Even just rolling a ball of the magical stuff in your hands is relaxing.
      • Add a few creative PlayDoh toysBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (148) to the gift and you have yourself an entertained patient for quite a few hours. Stored properly, both PlayDohBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (149) and Kinetic SandBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (150) lasts almost indefinitely.

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (151)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (152)

    • Magnetic Tiles:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (153)
      • The wonderfully magnetic shapesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (154) are fun for kids and adults alike. Build a tall 3-D tower or create a mandala design on the hospital bed table. The possibilities are really endless and it’s a toy that can’t break and can be stored perfectly in the LEGO cinch bag.Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (155)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (156)Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (157)

    • Room decorations:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (158)
      • For long-term hospital admissions, there’s nothing better than making the most of a tough situation and creating a “home away from home.”
      • Christmas lightsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (159) add a beautiful ambiance, especially over the holidays. But then again, the spirit of the holidays is welcomed any time of the year in a hospital room.
      • These wall decalsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (160) are funand a great way to temporarily decorate “the child’s space.”What better way than to add a little color and the child’s favorite characterBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (161) to the otherwise blank walls?!

    Shop the entire collection of “Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital!” here!

    After putting together this list of toys most wished for by the children in the PICU, I reached out to the respective toy companies and asked them to donate toys off this list. The toys collected, over 100 items, valued over $2,000 will be donated to the CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) at Seattle Children’s Hospital in January of 2019.

    *) The toys marked with a (*) were generously donated by the toy company in support of this toy drive benefitting the children in the CICU at Seattle Children’s Hospital. A heartfelt “THANK YOU” goes out to every donor, as they helped support my dream of brightening the lives of the children in the CICU, in honor of the 10th anniversary of our son’s long CICU stay. Donors: Creative QTBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (162), Goliath GamesBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (163), LEGO BagsBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (164), LEGO Watches & ClocksBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (165), Innovation PressBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (166) and iPlay iLearnBest Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (167).

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (168)

    These are the donations our sponsors sent us for Seattle Children’s Hospital! A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to our generous sponsors for supporting my dream!

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (169)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (170)

    Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (171)

    Journals and pens:Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (172)

Best Gifts for Kids in the Hospital (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 5778

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.