The Nation's Leading Provider of Free Adapted Medical Apparel for Kids: The Story of Zip With Us®
When a child enters the hospital for cancer treatment, heart surgery, or a rare disease diagnosis — everything changes. Tubes, central lines, ports, monitors — all become part of their daily life. But in the midst of the wires and medical equipment, kids still need to be kids. They still need comfort. They still need dignity. They still need to move, grow, play — and heal.
That’s where Zip With Us® comes in.
A Simple Idea with Life-Changing Impact
Founded with one mission — to restore dignity and comfort to children in medical care — Zip With Us® has grown from a small start-up nonprofit into the nation’s leading provider of free adapted medical apparel for babies and children in hospitals.
What began with our signature ZipShirts™ — soft, thoughtfully-designed shirts that allow for access to medical lines without removing clothing — has grown into a national movement of care.
In 2023, we expanded to include Drew's Cruisers™, an adapted onesie originally created by a mom for her infant son, Drew, during his cancer treatments. These garments provide normalcy and comfort while safely protecting central lines and medical devices — so babies can be held, soothed, and placed down to move freely without caregivers worrying about dislodging life-saving equipment.
Because children don't just need to stay safe — they need to function as children. Movement supports development. Comfort supports healing. Clothing supports dignity.
Custom Comfort for Every Child
Today, Zip With Us® serves over 160 pediatric hospitals across the country — providing not just garments, but customized solutions for children facing a wide range of medical challenges, including cancer, cardiac conditions, neurological diagnoses, and rare diseases.
Every adapted garment we create is designed with one question in mind:
"What specific medical needs does this child have and how can we help them best function?"
That’s why our products are made to be soft, functional, and even fun — letting kids choose colors, prints, and designs that reflect their personalities. It’s why we adapt every item to the specific medical needs of the patient. And it’s why we provide these garments completely free of charge — not just to families, but directly to hospitals, through a replenishment model that ensures ongoing access.
What’s Next
As the nation’s leading nonprofit in this space, we are working on new product offerings to support even more patients with complex needs — expanding our impact alongside our partners, volunteers, and the generous community that makes this possible.
Because when it comes to caring for kids in medical treatment — comfort is not a luxury. It’s care.
And every Zip With Us® garment is a reminder that kids deserve to feel like themselves — and to function safely in the hardest moments of their lives.
