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

Preparing Different Ages for a Hospital Stay

Fears: Strangers, New Places, Separation from Parents

  • Bring familiar toys and security objects from home.
  • Incorporate your daily routines into treatment schedule.
  • Provide a quiet and soothing environment during stressful events (turn down lights, provide soft soothing music, and use rocking chairs).
  • Prepare yourself. If you are prepared, you will be more relaxed around your infant. Distraction is a way to capture a child's attention and reduce distress during procedures through developmentally appropriate techniques. Distraction helps your child focus on something other than the pain and/or anxiety. Before a procedure, your child can help decide what technique to use. If time allows, practice the technique with your child.

Fun & Helpful Distractions for an Infant

Distraction is a way to capture a child's attention and reduce distress during procedures through developmentally appropriate techniques. Distraction helps your child focus on something other than the pain and/or anxiety. Before a procedure, your child can help decide what technique to use. If time allows, practice the technique with your child.

  • Singing
  • Visual and auditory toys
  • Puppets
  • Peek-a-boo
  • Bubbles
  • Rattles
  • Rocking
  • Swaddling in a blanket
  • Pacifier
  • Holding

Fears: Separation, Abandonment & Immobility

  • Prepare your toddler for the hospitalization/surgery 1-2 days before the event, if possible.
  • Allow your child to bring his favorite stuffed animal, blanket or security item.
  • Involve yourself as much as possible in the care of your child and reassure your child
  • that you will be with him as much as possible.
  • Allow for independence and autonomy when possible. Give your child choices:
    • "Do you want to hold still by yourself or do you want help?"
  • Keep a positive attitude.
  • Give simple explanations
    • "You need to have surgery so the doctor can fix your leg."
  • Reinforce positive behaviors.
  • Explain procedures/surgery in relation to your child's senses.
  • Play with doctor kits prior to admission to explore your child's feelings.

Fun & Helpful Distractions for Toddlers

Distraction is a way to capture a child's attention and reduce distress during procedures through developmentally appropriate techniques. Distraction helps your child focus on something other than the pain and/or anxiety. Before a procedure, your child can help decide what technique to use. If time allows, practice the technique with your child.

  • Singing
  • Visual and auditory toys
  • Puppets
  • Peek-a-boo
  • Bubbles
  • Rattles
  • Rocking
  • Swaddling in a blanket
  • Pacifier
  • Holding

Fears: Separation, Abandonment & Immobility

  • Begin talking to your child 3-4 days before his or her medical procedure or hospitalization.
  • Provide explanations for what he/she will see, hear, taste, smell or have to do. Children at this age do not know what to expect, so they frequently use their imaginations.
  • Use simple words when explaining what will happen/what he or she will have to do.
  • Clear up misconceptions related to illness as punishment.
  • Provide opportunities for questions.
  • Use doctor kits to help your child explore equipment they might see when they arrive.

Fun & Helpful Distractions for Pre-Schoolers

Distraction is a way to capture a child's attention and reduce distress during procedures through developmentally appropriate techniques. Distraction helps your child focus on something other than the pain and/or anxiety. Before a procedure, your child can help decide what technique to use. If time allows, practice the technique with your child.

  • Pop-up books
  • Auditory books
  • Auditory toys
  • "I Spy" books
  • Puppets
  • Bubbles
  • View finder
  • Hand size magna doodle
  • Breathing games
  • Counting games
  • Talking dolls

Fears: Separation from Parents, Pain, Death, Loss of Control

  • Start preparing your child 1-2 weeks before coming to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.
  • Talk about your child's fears and answer questions honestly.
  • Help your child understand why he or she is going to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon or having a procedure.
  • Give more detailed explanations of what they will hear, see, smell, and taste during their hospitalization.
  • Allow school age children to know what will happen before, during and after a procedure.
  • Prepare your school-age child for any changes to their body after a surgery or medication.
  • Allow your child to pack his or her own suitcase with clothes, pictures, games and music if desired.
  • Children at this age, may respond to stress by acting younger than their age (clinging to parents, not talking as much, sucking thumb).

Fun & Helpful School-Aged Child Distractions

Distraction is a way to capture a child's attention and reduce distress during procedures through developmentally appropriate techniques. Distraction helps your child focus on something other than the pain and/or anxiety. Before a procedure, your child can help decide what technique to use. If time allows, practice the technique with your child.

  • Video games
  • Stress balls
  • Imagery
  • "I Spy" books
  • Interesting key chains
  • Bubbles
  • Counting games
  • Telling stories
  • Magic wand
  • Koosh balls
  • Silly putty
  • Wind mills
  • Music
  • Joke books
  • Party blowers
  • Breathing games
  • View finder

Fears: Change in Appearance, Pain, Loss of Control, Death and Honesty with Doctors, Nurses and Family Members

  • Allow for independence when possible.
  • Encourage peer interactions.
  • Allow your child to be involved in his or her care and decisions.
  • Provide reasons for test/procedures.
  • Provide distraction/relaxation techniques during procedures.
  • Respect privacy when possible.

Fun & Helpful Adolescent Child Distractions

Distraction is a way to capture a child's attention and reduce distress during procedures through developmentally appropriate techniques. Distraction helps your child focus on something other than the pain and/or anxiety. Before a procedure, your child can help decide what technique to use. If time allows, practice the technique with your child.

  • Imagery
  • Relaxation
  • Video games
  • Head phones
  • Stress balls
  • Hand held games
  • Movies
  • Mad libs
  • Joke books

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.