Fidget Toys for Hospital, Dentist and GP Visits

Why hospitals use toys as distraction

If your child has been to a children's ward, you may have met a health play specialist. Great Ormond Street Hospital explains that these specialists usually carry out distraction during procedures, with the aim of taking a child's focus away from what's happening. They use books, games, music, breathing and textured toys among other things.

The same page is honest that distraction is not an exact science and doesn't help every child. That's worth remembering. A fidget isn't medical help and won't make an injection painless. It's a familiar thing from home that gives hands something to do while you wait.

Fidgets for the waiting room

Waiting is often the hardest part. Appointments run late, the room is full of strangers, and there's very little to do. A fidget fills that time without a screen.

Please leave the clickers at home for this one. A waiting room is a shared space and some people in it will be unwell or worried. A silent fidget is kinder to everyone:

• Linkloop chains loop and twist with almost no sound.
• Textured grip fidgets have ridges and bumps to run fingers over.
• Smooth worry-stone style fidgets sit quietly in a palm.
• Flexi animals bend and wiggle and give younger children something to play with.

Our noise levels guide shows which of our toys are quiet and which click.

Taking a fidget to the dentist

At the dentist hands tend to grip the arms of the chair. A small fidget held on the lap gives them something softer to do. Before the check-up starts, tell the dentist or nurse your child has one, so they know it's there and can say if it needs to go away for part of the appointment.

Keep it out of the way of the mouth. Our fidgets are hard PLA plastic and are not chew toys, so they shouldn't be bitten, even when a child is nervous.

GP appointments, jabs and blood tests

Shorter visits can be just as worrying, especially for vaccinations and blood tests. Bring the fidget to hold while you wait, and ask the nurse whether your child can keep holding it in their free hand during the test. Some nurses will be happy with that, others will want both hands still. Go with what they say.

It can help to let your child choose which fidget comes along. Picking it themselves gives them a small bit of control on a day where they don't have much. Talk through what will happen beforehand in simple words, and keep the fidget as something to do, rather than a reward for being brave.

Autistic children and children with sensory needs may find clinics particularly hard because of lights, noise and waiting. Our guide to sensory toys for autistic children has more on choosing for them.

Ask staff first, and keep it clean

Hospitals and clinics have their own rules on what can come into certain areas, especially theatres, scanning rooms and wards with very poorly patients. Always check with the nurse, play team or receptionist before bringing a toy beyond the waiting room. They'll usually be glad you asked. If your child is staying in, ask the ward too, because some wards keep a list of what can be brought from home.

Hygiene matters more than usual in a healthcare setting. Our fidgets are made of hard PLA plastic with no fabric or filling, so they can be wiped clean. Give it a wipe before you go and again when you get home. Our guide on how to clean fidget toys explains how.

Tips for an anxious child (or adult)

1. Bring a familiar one. A fidget your child already knows and likes is more comforting than a brand-new one on the day.
2. Pack it where you can find it. A coat pocket is better than the bottom of a bag when nerves kick in.
3. Talk to the team. Tell staff if your child is worried. Many hospitals have play teams who can help prepare them.
4. Adults can bring one too. Plenty of grown-ups feel nervous at the dentist. A silent fidget in a pocket is nobody else's business.

Every toy we make is 3D-printed by us in Kent, in small batches, from PLA, a plant-based polymer, carries the UKCA mark and is made to the UK toy safety standard, BS EN 71. They contain small parts and aren't suitable for children under 36 months. For more on fidgets and worry, see our guide to fidget toys for anxiety.