Preparing Your Child for a Hospital Stay
Whether planned or sudden, a hospital stay can be a frightening experience for all the family. As much as the staff help to welcome and settle your child in, answer your questions and explain what’s going to happen, the loss of control and helplessness many parents feel is all too real.
Having been the parents of a child admitted to hospital, we’d like to share our experiences and thoughts with you to hopefully make your child’s time in hospital go as smoothly as possible.
Introducing the Idea of a Stay in Hospital to Your Child
If you know of a planned or there is the possibility of an upcoming stay in hospital for your child, it can be tempting not to mention it to them. However, explaining things ahead of time can make things much easier and stress reducing for everyone. Here are some suggestions on how to approach the subject with your child:
- Hospital role play, such as playing dress-up or with a toy doctors kit
- Watching a cartoon character visiting the hospital
- Help your child pack a suitcase with the things they want to take to hospital
- Use child friendly language to explain the reason for the admission
- Be honest when answering questions and discussing what may happen
- Encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings of the visit with you
- Discuss the things they will see, hear, smell and feel in the hospital
What? Why? Children in Hospital is a website dedicated to explaining the types of procedures a child may experience in hospital that is well worth looking at too.
What to Pack for Your Child’s Hospital Stay
Besides clothing, medication, feeds and toiletries, there are three main types of things to pack when going to hospital: things to distract your child, things to comfort your child and things to entertain your child. Here are a few of our suggestions:
- Cuddly toy and blanket from home
- A favourite toy
- Bubble wand and mixture
- Puzzles
- Craft kits
- Colouring in and activity books with crayons, coloured pencils or felts
- Story books
- Photos of family members and pets
As a parent you will also be sitting around a lot, so remember to bring your device and charger, plus some books to read. From our family to yours, we do hope your child feels better soon and gets back home as quickly as possible.
