From watching a child undergo treatment procedures to explaining confusing medical terminology, Texas Children's Child Life Department knows that caring for a child while he or she is in the hospital can be a challenging and emotional time for a parent. By educating yourself about the issues your child may face in the hospital, you'll be better equipped to help him or her cope with any matters that may arise.
General tips for any age
Be honest.
Answer your child's questions clearly and avoid making promises about aspects of your child's care that may be unknown. (i.e. "I promise they won't give you any shots," or "We won't have to spend the night.") Patients who have incorrect, preconceived notions of the hospital or who constantly feel lied to can develop trust issues that affect the entire hospitalization and future medical experiences.
Control your emotions.
Though hospital trips are stressful for everyone involved, remain calm and do not let your anxiety show. This is especially important at bedside during procedures. Patients of all ages sense parental anxiety and, in turn, become more anxious themselves. If you feel like you are losing your composure, step out of the room and have someone else support your child. Child life specialists and social workers are available to offer emotional support to caregivers.
Bring familiar items from home.
Because hospitals are unfamiliar environments for most children, patients of all ages benefit from having familiar items from home. For younger children, these may include favorite toys, stuffed animals, pajamas, pacifiers and other comfort items. For older children and adolescents, favorite items may include video games, movies, books or music. Patients of all ages can also benefit from having pictures of family members, pets or friends placed at bedside.
Don't be alarmed if your child regresses developmentally.
The stresses of hospitalization often cause patients to regress and exhibit behaviors they have previously "outgrown". For example, toddlers may stop talking and choose to crawl instead of walking. Preschoolers will often exhibit increased stranger anxiety and sometimes begin wetting the bed again.
Age-specific tips
Infants/toddlers
- Spend as much time holding and talking to your baby as her condition allows.
- If you are comfortable, remain close to your baby during procedures.
- Try to maintain familiar schedules (i.e. feeding times, nap times, etc) as possible.
- Provide opportunities for your child to play. Use toys that she can easily manipulate despite the medical equipment she may need.
- Bring familiar comfort items from home including toys, stuffed animals, clothes and pacifiers.
Preschoolers
- Medical terminology can be misleading to patients at this age. Be sure to use unambiguous terms when describing tests and procedures. For example: say "CT" instead of "CAT scan" so children do not anticipate seeing a room full of cats during their test.
- Preschoolers think in concrete terms, so showing them the actual medical equipment they will encounter may be beneficial. Child Life specialists can help children manipulate the equipment for better understanding.
- Avoid asking patients if they are ready for something to happen ("Are you ready to take your medicine") unless you know that the time frames are flexible.
- Assign your child a "job" during treatment to give him a feeling of control. For example, his "job" during a blood draw is to hold his arm still.
- Preschool patients often view illness and medical procedures as punishment. Reassure your child that everything the medical staff does is to make him feel better and is not done because of anything he may have done “wrong.”
- Maintain normal routines as much as possible and allow plenty of opportunity for patients to play and express themselves creatively.
School Age (6-12)
- School age patients are able to understand their illness or injury and recognize symptoms. They can also reason and understand more abstract concepts, such as time and cause and effect. Diagnosis and treatment information should be given in relation to the symptoms they are experiencing. For example, a school age child with appendicitis is able to understand the link between the need for surgery and his abdominal pain going away.
- Involve patients in discussions related to their care as much as possible. In most cases, the more a patient's understanding increases, the more compliant they will be with procedures. Encourage them to ask questions of you and the medical staff rather than withholding information, which can cause resentment.
- School age children develop their own body image. Respect your child's desire for privacy when possible and encourage hospital staff to do the same.
- Peer groups are important to patients of this age. Encourage phone calls, cards and/or visits from friends, and persuade them to visit the preteen room so that they can interact with other patient's their age.
Adolescents (13+ years)
- Adolescents are able to understand their condition and treatment and should thus be involved in discussions about the diagnosis and plan of care. Encourage them to ask questions, and arrange a private discussion for your teen and the medical team, allowing him to speak more freely and receive more accurate information.
- Respect your teenager's sense of privacy. Teenagers tend to internalize more questions and concerns than younger children in an attempt to work problems out themselves.
- Teens concerns about body image are magnified by a hospitalization. Their fears of disfigurement and of being "different" are heightened. Make sure your teen understands the exact nature of the procedures and what kind of scarring, if any, may be expected. Whenever possible, request same gender nurses and doctors to examine your teen.
- Socialization is important for teenagers. Hospitalized teens often feel like they are "missing out" on things while they are admitted so give them opportunities to talk to friends and share their hospital experiences. Encourage friends to call and visit the hospital so the patient can be involved in normal teenage experiences. Also encourage the patient to visit the teen room in order to meet and interact with others their age.
