Pediatric nurse scrubs and badge reels that kids like (and you can wash)

On most units, scrubs are just clothes. In pediatrics, they are part of the bedside manner. A three-year-old does not know what a nurse is, but they know what a dinosaur is. A printed top, a fun cap and a silly badge reel can make you look like less of a threat before you have said a word.

The catch is that everything you wear on peds gets grabbed, sneezed on and occasionally thrown up on. So this guide is about fun gear that still washes hot and wipes clean. For fit, fabric and general scrub advice, see our main scrubs and layers guide.

Why prints matter on peds

Kids read faces and outfits fast. A friendly print is a small signal that this person is safe. It also gives you an easy opener: “Do you see the cat on my shirt? How many fish is she eating?” That counts as distraction, and the AAP describes child life work as helping kids cope through play and conversation. Your top can start the conversation for you.

It matters for families, too. A parent watching you work at 3 a.m. notices the small signs that you get kids. A cheerful top is one of them.

Printed scrub tops

Most peds staff wear a printed top with solid pants. Prints are where the personality goes, and solid pants keep the whole look from turning into wallpaper.

Cherokee makes a huge range of print tops, from animals and space to simple shapes, in sizes from XXS up. Go for poly-cotton or stretch blends that handle a hot wash.

A few print tips:

• Pick themes, not characters. Generic animals, food, space and weather all work. Licensed cartoon prints are often knockoffs on big marketplaces, and the quality can be poor.
• Think about the age group. Teenagers are not impressed by bunnies. A subtle geometric or a fun color works better on an adolescent unit.
• Have a calm one. Some days call for something quieter, like a hard conversation with a family. Keep one plain or soft print in the rotation.

Solid pants to go with them

If your hospital uses color coding by role, check whether prints are allowed on top, and which color the pants need to be. Some units allow print tops only on certain days.

Fun scrub caps

In the PICU, procedure rooms and peds OR days, your face may be half covered by a mask. A bright cap gives a child something to look at and talk about instead of the mask. Many printed caps also have buttons for mask loops and a sweatband.

Check your procedure areas first. Some only allow disposable caps.

Badge reels kids love

When you crouch to a child’s level, your badge is right in front of their face. A fun design turns it into a toy they can look at but do not need to hold.

What to look for:

• Smooth, hard face. Acrylic or plastic wipes clean. Fuzzy, glittery or fabric reels do not.
• No small parts. Charms and dangly bits can be pulled off and swallowed.
• A strong cord. Toddlers pull. A sturdy reel snaps back; a cheap one snaps.
• Easy to swap. Some reels have changeable tops, so you can match the season without buying a new reel.

Wipe your reel when you clean your stethoscope. The CDC hand hygiene guideline exists because hands carry germs from one place to the next, and your badge is something you touch dozens of times a shift.

Stickers on the go

Some peds nurses stick a fresh sticker on their badge each shift as a conversation piece, then give it away after a poke. Keep a sheet in your pocket, and leave the big roll at the station.

A warm layer under

Peds units can be warm for the babies, but workrooms and PICUs can be cold. A fitted long-sleeve tee under your top keeps your arms warm without a bulky jacket that gets grabbed. Check if your unit asks for bare below the elbows during care.

Cleanability and laundry

Peds scrubs see a lot of body fluids. The CDC laundry guidance for health care facilities relies on washing with detergent and hot water (or approved chemicals), then drying. At home, the closest you can get is:

• Wash scrubs after every shift, on the hottest setting the label allows.
• Wash them apart from family clothes if they are soiled.
• Keep a spare top in your locker. Someone will eventually sneeze, spit up or worse on you.
• Cloth caps go in a mesh bag so they do not vanish in the machine.

If your facility launders scrubs on site, follow its rules instead.

Toys in peds are hard to clean. A study of toy cleaning in pediatric settings noted that wiping them with disinfectant is labor intensive because of their uneven surfaces. Treat your wearables the same way. If it has ridges, fluff or sequins, it will not get properly clean.

Shoes and socks

Peds floors are not special on shoes, except for one thing: you will spend a lot of time crouching to a child’s level, kneeling by a crib and getting back up. Pick shoes that bend well at the toe and wipe clean, because spills happen. Our best shoes guide and compression socks guide cover the rest. Fun socks are fine if your dress code allows them; nobody can see them under your pants anyway.

What to skip

• Licensed character scrubs and badge reels from unknown sellers. Often knockoffs, and not always well made.
• Fuzzy or plush accessories. Cute, uncleanable.
• Dangling charms and pins. Choking risks, and they scratch small patients.
• Long lanyards. Toddlers grab them. A reel or a breakaway lanyard is safer.
• White pants. You work with children.

The peds wardrobe checklist

1. Three or four printed tops in themes, not characters
2. Solid pants in your unit color
3. A few printed caps with mask buttons, if your areas allow cloth caps
4. A smooth, wipeable, fun badge reel
5. A long-sleeve under layer for cold areas
6. A spare top in your locker

Follow your own unit’s policies, dress code and infection control rules, which always come first.