Coming to GOSH
Coping in hospital
Helping your child cope
We all fear the unknown so coming to hospital can be scary for anyone,
no matter how old or young they are. As with most unknown places and experiences,
preparation is important, so that you know what to expect. Preparing a child
for a visit to hospital is no different.
We realise that parents would like some guidance on how to prepare their
child for hospital, so we have put together some suggestions for you. All
of these ideas have come from our play specialists, who between them have
years of experience of preparing children for hospital, tests, operations
and procedures. If you have any ideas of your own or particular activities
that work with your child, please contact us to tell us about them.
The key to preparing your child for hospital is to tailor your explanations
and activities to your child's age and level of understanding. You know
your child best, so you will be able to gauge what he or she will be able
to understand and when. As a rough guide, we've also included some specific
hints for preparing children of different ages in the next section. General
points to remember include:
- Talk to your child about coming to hospital using simple, easy to understand
language. You may have to repeat the information several times until your
child understands what is likely to happen. Be honest with your child as
well. If you do not know what is going to happen or whether something will
hurt, admit that you do not know and try to find out from ward staff.
- A visit to the ward beforehand can also help. It will let your child
get to know the ward and meet some of the staff who will be involved in
his or her care, like the nurses and play specialist. To arrange a visit
to the ward, please call the number on your admission letter and ask to
speak to the play specialist.
- Some families find that it helps if their child helps pack their own
bag for hospital. This can also prompt questions that may not have cropped
up before. Taking a special toy or favourite video can help too.
- While you are in hospital, keep to as normal routine as possible. We
know this can be hard at times but keeping to regular bedtimes and so on
can add a touch of normality to a hospital stay.
- Try to find out as much information as you need beforehand, so you are
prepared to answer any questions. Take a look at our fact sheets section
on the website and ring the ward for more information. Distraction therapy
is often used at Great Ormond Street Hospital. We have produced a leaflet
explaining all about how to cope with a procedure or feelings of stress
or pain - for instance, with deep breathing, muscle relaxation, imagination
techniques and storybooks.
- Physical contact is always a comfort to a worried child. If you are
staying with your child during a procedure, hold hands or give them a hug
before and after.
- Encourage your child to ask questions as well as asking them yourself.
With older children, making a list of questions before an appointment or
admission can help address any fears or worries.
Most importantly, let your child know it is OK to feel scared. It's a
perfectly normal feeling and nothing to worry about. It's alright to let
you know if they're worried or in pain. Crying or yelling is allowed; 'being
brave' is not always useful. Encourage your child to talk about how he or
she is feeling. Some children clam up when they are worried or anxious,
so try using a toy as a 'substitute' so you ask how Teddy is feeling about
going to hospital rather than your child directly.
UCL Institute of Child Health
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
