This post was sponsored by Floating Hospital For Children as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Living in Massachusetts all my life I’ve been surrounded by the best hospitals. Boston has always been known for their great hospitals and medical practices. When my son was born I gave birth in a hospital just outside of Boston. Even though I am a first time parent of a three-year old I am still learning as we go.
I did take a tour of the maternity wing of the hospital. Little did I know they still had a little Boston inside them. The nurses that took care of A came all the way from Boston Children’s Hospital. It was so comforting knowing they were there every step of the way. Just knowing they had that and didn’t need to go all the way to Boston was a great feeling.
As a first time mom you always get more clingy and over protective. Who wouldn’t? Now that we live a little closer to Boston a trip into the city is always a nice day. Except, when its an emergency.
Did you know that Boston has its very own Floating Hospital sequence through Tufts Medical Center? Tufts Medical Center is the principal teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine.
I love that this option is available. You don’t have to go to the bigger based hospitals for care. Since A suffers from ADHD this is so comforting to know, since it provides a smaller environment which is what he needs. As a parent you always want your little one to feel secure on their own and in the doctors care. I’ve been to urgent care where the doctors just didn’t click or had no connection due to being rushed because of all the patients they had to attend to. That’s not their fault it just isn’t something in my sons best interest since he does have a medical condition that needs quick attention to sick or not.
Their pediatric department is constructed to help the parents and children especially in this age. For a child that suffered from ADHD using an IPad does help with his learning, like reading apps or using Amazon Kids time. Making sure he unplugs from digital media is something a parent needs to know. Also kowing what he is actually using watching and blocking certain apps may be what you need to do. I came across an issue with Youtube Kids a while back where even though it may be curated for your child’s age, inappropriate content gets through.
Mary Brown, MD, MS, Pediatrician at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, talks about the appropriate amount of screen time based on your child’s age and the importance of unplugging depending on the age difference.
For A he should be getting 1 hour or less of high quality programming per day that is developmentally appropriate and helping with cognitive skills.
Parents should supervise what kids are watching to prevent them from being exposed to violence or inappropriate content; when parental controls are available, use them to block inappropriate apps, videos, websites or channels.
Parents should make sure there are certain times and places with no screens: dinnertime, homework time and in the bedroom. This will help prevent any issues.
On the end note. Being able to go to a great place without having to go to a big hospital is key for some parents like me. Not having to go to the inner city of Boston or having to wait hours just to be seen for the smallest issue is something I don’t take lightly as a parent. Also finding an affiliation is a great way if your out of town that can link to your child’s doctor so they can always stay in the loop.
What are your thoughts?
You can visit the Floating Hospital For Children on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter & Pinterest
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
My sister in law worked there for a while and it’s a GREAT place. She has since moved over to Mass General, but she spoke highly of Tufts!
OvenStruck
What a fabulous concept. It’s scary enough when you have an emergency and having these floating hospitals brings a bit of much needed peace of mind.
Amanda Paxton
What a great resource to have a floating hospital near just incase your little ones need extra care from pediatric specialists!
Meredith
I almost feel embarrassed saying this but I didn’t even know about floating hospitals!! Great post, thank you so much for sharing!!!
Jalisa
Meredithlol. There’s no shame in that. Now you know and may be able to find one on your own.
SIC Mama
I love that this is available. Gives parents a real peace of mind. Wish I knew about this when I lived there! Would have applied to work there.
babiestobookworms
This is such a fantastic option for parents. We had to take my daughter to the emergency room when she was just over a year old and it was terrifying! Anything to make those situations a little easier on parents is a big deal.
Jane Davidson
This sounds like a great option! I’m not a parent but I seriously didn’t know things like this existed but it is such a great idea.
Kristina
This is great to have this available so you know now ahead of time too. Makes it easier and convenient for parents.
Karen Morse
This is so fantastic about the hospital option and about Boston. I used to live there, and even had my 2 cancer surgeries and New England Medical. The city is always impressing me with its medical innovations and ideas!
Jalisa
Karen MorseOh my. I’m glad things worked out. New England has great facilities.
Marcie in Mommyland (@marciemommyland)
This sounds like such a great option! As a parent, any medical thing with your child is truly terrifying. This seems like it would alleviate a lot of stress!
Jalisa
Marcie in Mommyland (@marciemommyland)Especially having any little ones.
Dwan ~ The Places We Travel
We are testing screen limits on our kids. Although my daughter is older she can’t handle as much screen time as her younger brother. I think limits are important.
Jalisa
Dwan ~ The Places We TravelThey definitely are. As in my own opinion using the Amazon free time definitely helps my son. He suffers from Adhd and it works great to keep his attention for a certain period of time.
Voice of Vera
This is great! I wish they offered this where I lived. Its a lot better for the families, especially with smaller children.
Jalisa
Voice of VeraI’ve been to the ER at a local hospital and they see you by priority. They don’t have all the services that many inner city hospitals which bothers me. Having the floating hospital definitely eases my mind and any other parent as well.
daniella flores
This is a fantastic option and service for parents to include something like this in a medical center and making it more accessible to all.
Amanda Love
I have heard about this and i think it’s amazing that Boston has a floating hospital especially for the kids in need. They are tougher to handle because they can’t properly verbalize what they’re feeling.
Elizabeth O.
This is really awesome and I love that they have this available. It’s convenient for parents and so much better for the kids especially for those who need immediate medical attention.
Jalisa
Elizabeth O.It really is.
Jessica Joachim
Being a central Florida girl, I am very close to Shands which is a huge teaching hospital, so I know great medical care is so important. Here is is odd though b/c you ALWAYS have med students in the rooms with you ( if you agree to it of course). I also am not a fan of Kids youtube. I got my daughter the Amazon tablet and the Free time app has been great for her.
Jalisa
Jessica JoachimBoston is also a teaching city. If you go to the head hospitals you will get the students. If you go to the smaller ones you don’t get them so its kind of weird. I am with you though. When it comes to my actual child you want to make sure they get the best care.
reesann723
It can be so scary when a family member needs medical care. This sounds like a wonderful concept to bring piece of mind!
Lily@militaryfamof8
It can’t take it when one of my family needs medical especially my kids. It will be a heart attack for me. It’s good to know their a floating hospital in your place. Wish we had too here.
Jalisa
Lily@militaryfamof8I had no idea of so many floating hospitals. I will definitely try and search for one. They may exist where you are.
Melissa Chapman
It is so important to have the doctor that you feel comfortable with and trust. With all the great hospitals and doctors in Boston it looks like you have found something special.
Jalisa
Melissa ChapmanThank you. With so many hospitals its definitely a great find.
Prime Beauty Blog (@PrimeBeauty50)
Being that this is part of Tufts, I’m not surprised. They are well known for their medical care and innovation.
Blythe Alpern (@blythea)
The floating hospital is such a smart idea. You really shouldn’t have to go to a hospital to get the care your kids need.
almostindianwife
Wow this is amazingI I didn’t even know something like this existed! We’ve been in the hospital many times for our youngest and it would have been amazing to have this.
Roxanne
Having a sick child is so stressful on a child. Having something like this to help bring peace of mind is brilliant!
Tereza (@cityscapebliss)
What a wonderful concept – I’ve never heard of this before but I can imagine being a parent is so stressful that this brings a lot of relief! x
Mommy Engineering
Wow I love the concept of this hospital! That’s so wonderful that they are doing this! I can’t imagine how hard this would be. So glad they are helping put these stressful situations in a very caring environment
Jeanine
This is good for parents and helps them out. Hospitals can be costly. This makes sure children have the care they need.
Jalisa
JeanineDefinitely and finding a specialist is even worse.
The Everyday Mom Life
This is a really interesting idea! I feel like we have something like this here and I just wasn’t aware there was a term for it.
Heather
What an amazing service! I have seen some amazing doctors in Boston throughout the years, and to have the ability, especially when there is an emergency, is so reassuring.
kerenscharles
This is such a great service. Especially for an emergency, it just eases your mind knowing that this is an option. Thanks for sharing.
Jalisa
kerenscharlesDefinitely. Now that I’m a mom its a definite must.
projectlifewellness
I really love this concept. I am so glad you had a good experience there!
Jalisa
projectlifewellnessIt really is. Thanks
homeboundbuthopeful
What a great concept- a place that is doing such very important work!