Christmas With a Mini Ostomate

Christmas With a Mini Ostomate

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and for me it’s all about the kids and the magic. If you have left planning and booking Christmas activities you may find there’s little room left as tickets were released for such events very early this year as we start doing the traditional Santa visits and workshops that were so normal before Covid hit.

When you have a medically complex child it may result in a very different scheme of events than your child’s peers. For instance, medical interventions may make some activities inaccessible or at the very least difficult making you avoid and find alternatives. From my experiences of spending the lead up to Christmas in the hospital environment following a three month admission, Noah’s Ark Children Hospital in Wales made every effort to bring the magic of Christmas to the wards. Santa and his family were on call on the iPads wishing the children Merry Christmas knowing key information about them and chatting to them. Presents were given out and cards made. Treats were left in the parent room which always brought tears to my eyes. You just don’t think of yourself at such a time and when someone goes out of their way for you, the parent of the sick child, it takes you back as you are on autopilot caring for them without a thought to yourself.

Experiences for me over materialistic things is what matters, but I would be kidding myself if I didn’t think my little man wasn’t looking forward to all the plastic stuff that us parents then have the painstaking task of finding new homes for in the new year!

Here I share my gift ideas for the mini ostomate in your life:

1. Stoma bag covers

There are some independent business owners that can make covers from a choice of different fabric designs to meet the interests of your little one. Personalised or with their favourite characters most will have a wide range to choose from including seasonal options. Make sure to check the reviews first and see if anyone else you know in the community has bought them before. They aren’t cheap but they are bespoke and niche so expect to not pay pennies for them.

2. Personalised toiletry bag

My little one is coming up to an age where he will need his own bag of supplies as he starts to become more independent and go more places without me. This means managing his stoma is going to require him taking spares and contingencies for an unexpected leak. For him a Minecraft theme would be best but again as with the stoma covers above choose something they love. I use the Refresh 3in1 spray in the mini 50ml size so that it can pop in his bag as it does mine. It takes up little room doing the jobs of an adhesive remover, providing a fresh linen spray as an odour neutraliser, and a barrier film.

 

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A post shared by Rachel Louise (@gutsy.mum)

3. New scissors 

As a medically Mama, who doesn’t love a new pair of medical grade scissors! If you know you know.. same goes for the little ones. Obviously as long as they are safe to use, a new pair will be a novelty and be a big deal just for them.

4. Reward charts

As I encourage my little one to take more of an interest in doing parts of the stoma bag change routine himself, I team this with a reward chart. I use one that I can add my own goals to as this is just for the medical interventions he has to contend with. For every time he does a part of the routine be it taking his bag off, sticking it on or using the spray he gets a tick and a prize for every 10 ticks. Great for their self esteem being able to take an active role in the management of their bag, and an important skill to have.

5. Ostomate play date

Do you know other parents with mini ostomates or even adults? Organising a catch up, a play date or a family meet up is wonderful for the children to see people similar to them that they can relate to. Connecting with other parents of ostomates through the community on social media may be a place to start. Hospitals themselves can’t pass on details of families to others due to child protection so unless you know someone by word of mouth social media is the place to start.

6. DIY teddy bear

Why not get your child’s favourite cuddly toy and make a mini stoma bag for them to be the same? For the elf visiting this year I did the same thing and Jake’s reaction was everything. He looked at him, clapped eyes on the bag and shouted, ‘Mummy he has a bag just like me!’. Seeing something you love being the same as you can be the warmest hug for a young child. It’s likely they will be the only child in their class or peer group with one so doing this will mean more to them than they can possibly communicate even.

Enjoy making memories with your little ostomates and have a lovely Christmas, Rach @gutsy.mum x