Infancy and the early childhood years are filled with situations that bring about physical and emotional discomfort. A visit to the doctor or to the hospital are two situations that may cause your child to get upset. Preparing a child for a regular checkup is important. Knowing what the doctor will do is very helpful to your child.
From infancy through childhood, your child will also require certain immunizations for protection against childhood diseases. During routine office visits, the doctor will tell you at what age each immunization should be given. “Shots” hurt a little, but they are important, and immunizations are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. During the first year of your child’s life, she will receive many immunizations.
In this first in a series of blogs, I describe several simple techniques that may help comfort your child and may help your child develop better coping skills before, during and after medical visits. These suggestions will help your child feel more comfortable.
Tips for Parents – Infants and Young Children
1) Prepare yourself for your child’s visit. If you feel at ease, your child is able to sense that and react in the same way.
2) Use simple language. Be honest.
3) Give information to your child that will help prepare her for a visit to the doctor or for a specific procedure.
4) Help your child to express her feelings and/or fears through play at home.
5) Stay with your child, if possible. Separation is difficult and a parent’s presence is comforting and healing. In fact, it is the most comforting of all of these tips.
6) Hold her and sing to her or gently rock her.
7) Remain calm – it will help your child to remain calm.
8) Speak in a soft voice and use words that your child is familiar with – you will help foster a sense of trust in your child.
9) Hold your child and stroke your child’s face or arm to help provide security and warmth.
10) Listen to your child’s concern. It’s okay to ask questions, cry and talk about her feelings. Crying is a release for tension, anger, and hurt. It is healthy.
11) Speak to your child’s physician about local topical anesthetics that you can apply at home prior or following a procedure.
12) Bring crayons for drawing on the paper on the exam table.
13) Bring your child’s favorite music and earphones with you or sing a familiar song that your child loves. Music is a wonderful way to support your child.
14) Bring a sweetened pacifier (if your child uses a pacifier). Studies have shown that sucking on one will help your child to relax. (To make one, dip pacifier in solution that is one part sugar and two parts warm water)
15) Praise your child and bring small rewards with you for positive reinforcement. Encourage her during the procedure.
16) Take a familiar toy, blanket or teddy to the doctor’s office, etc. It may help comfort your child.
17) Try not to make promises you can’t keep.
18) Bring a snack or breast feed after a visit or bring a snack and a favorite toy with you.
Having worked in hospitals for over 20 years, I’ve seen how often Child Life programs help ease the emotional and developmental impact of illness for children and their families. Known initially as “pediatric play programs” in the 1940s, the field of Child Life has grown and expanded into comprehensive psychosocial, developmental programs with educational services for children and their families in over 500 hospitals in the US, and several around the world.
Child Life programs have become important in out-patient settings and visits to the doctor. Many hospitals have child life specialists in their out-patient settings, but many still do not. Most pediatric practices do NOT have the presence of a child life specialist in their office. This is why I wanted to write about how to comfort your child during healthcare experiences. You can be your child’s best advocate.
For more information contact The Child Life Council at www.childlife.org. They have excellent information.
I will continue this blog series over several months, writing about the following topics: Comforting Techniques including Comforting Positions, Positive Reinforcement, Deep Breathing, Positive Self-Talk, Preparation and Medical Play, Distraction, 2) Activities to do with Your Child Before and After Medical Visits, 3) Toys to use to help your child and teach them strategies for coping, 4) Suggested reading for children and parents. Until next time!
Note: Any suggestions, tips or techniques to help your child feel more comfortable during medical experiences are not intended to replace speaking to your child’s doctor or other health professional.
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Patricia Weiner, MS is presently an educational consultant and advocate for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) and academic challenges. She works for The Making Headway Foundation, is a private consultant and faculty mentor for graduate students at Bank Street College of Education in New York. Over the past 35 years, she has worked as a special educator, child life specialist, health-education specialist and has been the administrator of several programs. She has presented nationally on education and child life, published articles and chapters in child life text books, and has received several awards for child advocacy for this population of children.
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