Products: hospital helpers
When children spend time in hospital, the little things can make a big difference. These products and resources help bring comfort and a sense of control to days that can feel overwhelming.
New experiences can feel much less daunting when children know what to expect. The Courageous Kids app uses personalised social stories, visual plans and games to help children prepare for unfamiliar situations, including appointments, procedures and changes to routine.
Supertee turns medical wear into something a little more magical, helping children feel brave and confident during hospital stays. Designed as a superhero costume with clever openings for easy access to medical lines, it allows kids to stay comfortable while healthcare teams and families provide the care they need. Supertees are gifted free of charge through participating children’s hospitals, paediatric wards and respite centres across Australia, helping bring a little extra courage to some very big moments.
Part of the Helper Fairies and Friends range – Gracie the Get Well Soon Fairy knows it’s no fun when you don’t feel well. It’s her special fairy job to be right by your side, and help you rest and feel better. She’ll keep you company, and when you give her a cuddle, some of her fairy magic will help you feel better little by little until you are well and ready to play again!
RRP: $45 | helperfairiesandfriends.com
If you find yourself leaving hospital with a bundle of medication this is the product you need. My Med Pouch is a compact, insulated carry bag designed to keep kids’ medications organised and easy to access — at home, out and about, or while travelling.
Comfortable to wear, simple to use, and available in three stylish colours.
RRP: $44.95 mymedpouch.com
Brave is a weighted emotional support soft animal (ESSA) designed to provide comfort and companionship for children. Inspired by the Little Paws picture book Brave The ESSA, this beautifully detailed Border Collie has a soft, weighted body that feels reassuring to hold and cuddle. A familiar friend to take along for procedures, appointments or quiet moments, Brave can help children feel supported when things feel unfamiliar.
RRP: $55 | littlepawsplushies.com
Hospital stays can bring lots of new faces, changes and unknowns. Bee Visual’s Choiceworks apps use pictures and visual schedules to help children understand their day, prepare for what’s coming next and take part in everyday choices. For children who benefit from predictability and routine, the apps can provide a sense of control during an unfamiliar time, whether that’s knowing when a procedure is happening, when a favourite activity is coming up or what the plan looks like for the day.
Needles and medical procedures can be a big source of worry for children. Buzzy Bee is a small, child-friendly device that combines gentle vibration and cooling to help reduce discomfort and provide a distraction during procedures such as injections, blood tests and IV insertions. Its fun bee design helps transform a potentially scary experience into something more manageable, giving children another tool to feel more comfortable and confident during medical care.
RRP: $120 paedseducation.com.au
For children who are tube fed, mealtimes can look a little different, but that doesn’t mean food has to lose its connection to flavour, choice and family life. Blended by Sarah creates whole- food blends made specifically for the tube-fed community, using ingredients such as fruits, vegetables and proteins in smooth, ready-to-use pouches. During hospital stays, these blends can provide a familiar, nourishing option while helping children maintain a sense of normality around food.
My Buddy Boo is a therapeutic comfort toy designed to help children understand medical experiences, express emotions and feel less alone. With removable emotion badges and medical accessories including an IV drip, port, insulin pump and asthma pump, Boo helps children explore their own experiences through play and conversation.
RRP: from $80 | mybuddyboo.com.au
Medical procedures can feel overwhelming for children and families. Developed by a child life therapist, this free guide from TheraPrinted provides practical strategies to help parents prepare, support and communicate with their child before, during and after medical appointments or procedures. With simple tips for reducing anxiety and creating a sense of predictability, it helps children feel more informed, involved and supported through unfamiliar experiences.
