How to Prepare Your Child for a Hospital Visit

Infants (Birth-11 months) Worries: Unfamiliar environment, fear of strangers, pain, interrupted routines, and separation from family. Preparation: Be main source of comfort for child. Stick to routines. Bring favorite stuffed animal, pacifier, or blanket support. Sing lullabies. Hold/rock infant. Gently stroke face, arms or legs. Talk in soothing tones and provide comfort items. Provide items your infant can watch (bubbles, mobiles, mirrors, crib toys). Shake rattles to engage their attention. Medical play by letting infants explore though mouthing, grasping, and touching safe, real medical equipment. Play Peek-a-boo with doctor hats and masks. Let your infant watch you interact with medical equipment to build familiarity.

Toddlers (12 months-3 years) Worries: Separation from family, unfamiliar environment, strangers, loss of independence, pain (fear of needles and medical equipment). Preparation: Read about hospitals and talk to your child one or two days prior to the visit. Play with doctor kits and explain things in a simple way. Assure child you will be with them as much as possible. Blow bubbles, sing songs, or read books. Hold and comfort child. Provide comfort items from home. Medical play (peek-a-boo with doctor hats and masks or water play with syringes in bathtub). Let child explore and play with appropriate medical equipment.

Preschoolers (4 years-5 years) Worries: Pain (fear of needles and medical equipment), seeing procedures as punishment, fear of bodily harm, separation from family, confusion about being in hospital. Preparation: Talk in simple words about going to the hospital a few days before visit. Explain the visit is to help make him/her feel better, not because of something he/she did wrong. Read books about going to hospital. Give child time to ask questions and show understanding. Sing songs, blow bubbles, read, listen to sound books. Provide comfort items. Talk about some of your child’s favorite things. Medical play by make medical collages with things found in hospital (bandages, gauze, tongue depressors, cotton balls, etc.). Play and explore with medical equipment and dolls (painting and water play with syringes)

School Agers (6 years-12 years) Worries: Loss of privacy and independence, pain, fear of harm to his/her body, fear of death. Preparation: Begin discussions about hospital visit 1-2 weeks before date of visit. Let child pack bag for time in hospital. Encourage child to talk about feelings and worries to you and staff at hospital. Read books about going to hospital. Talk about what child may see and feel while in hospital. Always be honest- explain why he/she needs to go to the hospital (what the surgery or other procedures are for). Bring books or handheld games. Talk about favorite things (vacation, activity, school). Practice slow, deep-breathing and relaxing. Listen to favorite music. Squeeze stress ball or hold someone’s hand. Medical play by making artwork with medical materials (syringe painting). Write story or poem about going to the hospital. Play and explore with appropriate, real medical equipment and dolls.

Teenagers (13 years and older) Worries: Loss of privacy and independence, separation from friends, body image issues. Preparation: Include teen in making decisions about surgery or hospital stay. When appropriate, ask his/her opinion. Read books or articles about hospital. Encourage teen to think about questions and concerns and write them down. Respect his/her privacy. Encourage teen to keep in touch with friends. Play handheld games. Talk with teen about school, friends, etc. Practice deep, slow breathing and relaxing body. Squeeze stress ball or hold someone’s hand. Listen to favorite music or watch movies. Medical play by exploring and asking questions about medical equipment or create artwork inspired by the hospital experience (can also use medical equipment). Write songs, poems, stories about hospital.