How can I prepare my toddler for a hospital stay?

One thing you have going for you at this age: Attention spans are quite short. Little kids live for the moment and don’t dwell on the future, even if the future is, say, about three hours from now. However, not all toddlers are alike.

Some four-year-olds are more intuitive and insightful than their twelve-year-old siblings. So gear all of your explanations, descriptions, and assurances about the hospital stay to your child’s individual development level. Some tips: The day before you leave for the hospital, take ten minutes (max) to tell your child where he is going, why, and what will happen, but be a little skimpy on the details.

Tell the truth, but skip words like “scalpel,” “knife,” “needle,” “slice,” “saw,” “cut off,” or “fry.” If he asks, “Will I get a shot?” a good reply would be, “I don’t know, but if the doctor does have to give you one, I promise to make her do it fast so it hurts only a little.” Do not tell your child that he won’t feel a thing because the doctor will put him “to sleep.”

Many kids are afraid that they’ll go the way of a sick dog or cat (complete with being buried under the bushes behind the garage). Instead, explain that the medicine will make him so sleepy that he won’t feel or remember anything. You can tell your child you will be with him when he gets the medicine and that once the medicine wears off, he will wake up to find you right there at his bedside.

(Naturally, you’d better be there. An ill-timed bathroom break could cost you big-time.)If your child asks how long the operation will take, put it in terms he will understand, like “about as long as your favorite TV show.”Have your child help you pack the suitcase, and let him throw in things like toys and blankets for comfort. If he’s going in for surgery, your child will usually be able to bring a “comfy” into the operating room to calm him before he’s given anesthesia.

Then the staff will discreetly stash it so it doesn’t affect the sterile environment. Talk about the future. Tell him he’ll feel better afterward and start planning a special treat together for when you get home.Be ready to repeat any of the above several times during the car trip and again in the hospital.

From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

While getting any medical care for an infant is scary, you’re actually getting off pretty easy as far as planning goes. Why? Two biggies: First, your ten-week-old isn’t accustomed to long talks yet and will be ready to go to the hospital the minute you are.

Second, you can spend most of your energy making sure that the hospital is ready for your infant, and that you and your family are prepared to handle the schedule complications even a short hospital stay will bring. On the downside, expect your baby to be upset when you get to a big, busy, clinical place and she senses this isn’t her auntie’s house. So your already stressful day may be accompanied by that classic soundtrack “Endlessly Screaming Baby.”

Remind yourself that it’s normal for infants to cry. I know that it’s not easy to hear (for parents and innocent bystanders alike), but crying is how your little one communicates discomfort or fear. And she’ll have plenty of both, since you’re taking her to a strange environment with strange people, startling sounds, and harsh smells.

Honestly, if the odor of hospital disinfectant nearly makes you want to cry, just imagine how she feels. Try not to wear fear on your face; infants pick up on that. You might not believe it, but staying calm can be the biggest help to your baby.

Ask hospital staffers about specific concerns or worries you have if it helps you stay steady. From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

A lot of your prep work will be constantly saying that everything will be okay. From your child’s view, he’s going to a place filled with big equipment, creepy noises, a strange bed, and people he doesn’t know. And, unlike a three-year-old, he’s old enough to take these pretty seriously.

No wonder he’s scared. The key is to be honest and include your child in preparations. Some tips:If your child is five to seven, start talking about the hospital visit about three days beforehand, depending on his individual development.

If your child is eight to ten, you may want to bring it up sooner, depending on his maturity level and attention span. Just don’t talk about the hospital so much that you make your child anxious about it. Focus on the purpose of the trip: to help him get better and back home as soon as possible.

Your child is smart, so be as straightforward as you can and give him permission to be a little upset or cry. If you’re painting an overly rosy picture, he’ll detect it, even if he doesn’t call you on it. Use terms your child understands when describing what will happen in the hospital.

As long as it won’t scare your child or gross her out, consider using visuals, such as pictures from an anatomy book, to show your child the body part involved. The hospital may have a video of the procedure that is geared to kids. Stress the positive outcome expected from the procedure.

Remind your child that he will feel better when it’s over and soon be able to get back to his favorite activities. And let him know that he’ll also have a treat waiting for him, at this age, maybe a new video game or a week without having to clean up his room. From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

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