Preparing Your Child for a Hospital Stay
Preparation is very important for children who need to stay at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital overnight. Knowing what to expect prior to a test, procedure or surgery will help take away stress and anxiety as your child begins to process his or her thoughts about what they are experiencing in the medical center.
It also allows your child time to think of questions he or she may want to ask to help clear up misconceptions about an overall hospital experience.
There are several ways you can help your child prepare:
Potential Outcomes from Preparation
- Less upset behavior
- Better cooperation
- Fewer post-hospital adjustment problems
- Decreased anxiety
Coping Strategies that May Help Your Child
- Crying (giving the child permission to respond naturally)
- Sitting on caregiver's lap
- Turning head away from procedure
- Watching the procedure
- Holding (squeezing) a parent or provider's hand
How to Help Your Child Cope with Hospitalization:
- Discuss the reasoning for a hospital stay and what will happen after arriving
- Encourage questions
- Emphasize things your child will hear, see, feel, smell, etc.
- Encourage expression of emotions
- Talk with a Child Life specialist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon
Encouraging Play
Play is very important to children. It is how they learn. Encouraging play during a child's hospitalization helps make their environment feel more like home.
Encouraging Play During Hospitalization:
- Bring a favorite toy or comfort item from home.
- Use the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital playrooms/teen rooms during hospitalization when your child is able to leave his or her room.
At times, a Child Life specialist will provide medical play to help the child understand and clear up misconceptions regarding the medical center in a non-threatening and child-friendly manner.