Taking the dread out of the hospital visits

[Cheryl Biermann]

Hi,

 

After speaking with one of our parents, I thought, well this would make a great forum for new parents!  Who else has suggestions in making the hospital a welcoming and warm place where people care for you when you're sick instead of the scarry place where they take you from mom and dad and poke around with needles.

 

BTW our hospital never sent me out of the room, I had the option and chose to hold and comfort him myself, but I understand that is not for everyone and that different hospitals and hospitals in other countries may not allow for this.

 

My suggestions were to get to know the Child Life Specialist, request they visit you to get to know your child and their likes/dislikes.  Request their presence when you are going to the dreaded visit.  Tour the hospital and take pictures, (some kids might just be scared because they aren't familiar with the surroundings), let them know what is done in each of these places.  Take them to window shop at the hospital gift shop, make friends with everyone, the janitorial staff were great with Nathan, let him try the big noisy buffer, visits with him when the come to clean the room ect.  I had a friend who visited the dollar store before each visit to pick out an item to buy if all went well at the doctors, on the way home, they swung by to buy the toy, and soon Hailey was asking when she was going to go to the hospital again, because she needed a new toy!

 

I know people have their own methods, so please add to this because what works for one child might not for another.

 

[debbie thelwell]

Thanks Cheryl this is really useful defiantly give the pound shop as we call them a go!
Debbie x