Whether it is tubes in the ear for frequent ear infections or something more serious, having a young child stay in the hospital, especially when it involves surgery, can be a nerve-filled experience for both you and your child.
Parents Magazine recently published an article all about preparing children when they have to go to the hospital. There is some good advice here, especially as it relates to babies and the youngest children. I’ve adapted some of the advice given as a result of my own experiences with children and hospitals.
Inform yourself
I always became less anxious whenever I knew exactly what the doctors and nursing were going to do and why. It helped me be an advocate for my kids, but it also helped me prepare my little ones, because I could tell them what to expect in terms that they would understand. I’m sure that they also picked up on the fact that I was calm, so they could be calm.
Bring stuff from home
Having familiar objects around can be very comforting, especially for younger children and babies. A special blanket, toy or book or even a photo of a pet can offer comfort and distraction. Now is the time to also bring along something new that can distract your little one.
For babies, bring along something that you have recently worn, such as a shirt. The familiar smell tucked into the crib will bring a lot of comfort. For the youngest babies, make sure that whatever objects you bring won’t cause a suffocation hazard. A familiar music CD of lullabies is another nice thing to bring for baby, but don’t forget the portable player.
Talk to your child
Prepare your little one for the visit by talking about it. You can read picture books together and talk about the nice doctors and nurses. We called them “friends.” If your child is a worrier, then don’t discuss the hospital visit too far in advance. The magazine article recommends that you don’t tell toddlers until the morning of the visit, but for my kids, it worked out to tell them the night before. This way, we had the time to put a good positive spin on the visit without everyone feeling rushed. The kids didn’t feel that their day had suddenly taken a fast and scary turn.
Have you ever had to prepare a child for a hospital stay?
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