PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR THE HOSPITAL

A hospital stay can be difficult for children. Your child may have a tough time understanding why s(he) must be in the hospital. Here are suggestions to help prepare your child for a visit to the Alberta Children's Hospital:

• Discuss the visit with your child in advance. It will help if you describe the hospital as a place where s(he) will be helped or made well. Be honest about where s(he) is going and about how long they might have to stay;
• When you come to the hospital, bring some of your child's favourite things from home. A favourite book or toy and some of your child's own clothing. Familiar things will help him/her feel more comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. Please label your child's belongings and leave expensive or valuable items at home. The hospital is not responsible for personal property; and
• Child Life and nursing staff can also assist parents in preparing a child for hospitalization and for settling into the hospital once admitted.

When you cannot be there

We encourage you to stay with your child as much as possible, but we also recognize parents have many responsibilities and demands on their time. We understand if you have to go to work, if you have other children at home or if you simply need a good night's sleep to cope with an ill child. It's common for children to cry and feel upset when their parents leave. There are things you can do to help your child through the separation:

• Be sure your child understands the separation will only be temporary;
• Be honest about when you will return and do your best to be back when you say you will;
• It often helps younger children if they keep something that belongs to you, such as a scarf, to keep until you return; and
• Make your child's nurse aware of your child's distress.

Feelings

Most children and their families cope well with the stress of a hospital stay. Even so, it can be upsetting for both you and your child, despite the best attempts of staff to be supportive.

Children may fear abandonment, or think they are at the hospital because they have done something wrong. They certainly feel that strangers cannot look after them as well as mom, dad or a primary caregiver. Sometimes children may be afraid, angry or cry. Try to show your child that you understand how they are feeling.

You may also feel uncomfortable if your child has to stay in the hospital. Many parents have their own unpleasant memories of what it was like to be in a hospital, or they may feel guilty or angry about their child's situation.

As parents, you may have a difficult time trusting people you don't know well to care for your child. Keep in mind that you are important members of our team. We rely on you to make informed decisions about the care and treatment of your child. You have a right to information about your child's condition and how your child will be treated. If you are not comfortable with your role on the team, whatever that role may be, please talk to us about it and we will do our best to make things more comfortable for you. A nurse, Child Life therapist, social worker, or our invaluable volunteers can be particularly helpful.