Supporting Your Child When They Are In The Hospital
Access resources from our child life specialists to help support your child while they are hospitalized.
Supporting Your Infant When They Are In The Hospital
Children this age gain a sense of trust with caregivers who provide constant care and nurturing. If they do not get this, they will learn to mistrust their caregiver. This is a time of learning mostly through the use of their senses (sight, sounds, smell, taste and touch).
Your Infant May
- Be fussy due to a change in their normal routine.
- React quickly to pain.
- Show a fear of strangers starting around 6 months.
- Be sensitive to surroundings (lights, noises, multiple caregivers).
How You Can Help
- Use a comforting touch, pacifier or other soothing items from home.
- Keep routines as much as possible, including sleep and feeding.
- Play and read to your child.
Supporting Your Toddler When They Are In The Hospital
Toddlers are learning to be more independent and how to make right versus wrong choices. They are learning self-control.
Your Toddler May
- Show fear when away from caregivers.
- Show fear around people they do not know.
- React quickly to pain.
- Have a hard time getting used to the unfamiliar hospital environment.
- Regress in thinking, behaviors, or loss of newly learned skills.
How You Can Help
- Keep routines and involve people your toddler knows when possible.
- Provide structure and limits.
- Provide choices to give your toddler control and independence.
- Play and read to your child.
Supporting Your Pre-School Aged Child When They Are In The Hospital
Preschoolers have a very active imagination. Sometimes they have a hard time learning the difference between real and make-believe. Preschoolers may be able to mimic medical words but do not understand them.
Your Preschooler May
- Show fear around people they do not know.
- Show fear when away from their caregivers.
- Not understand medical procedures (may think the worst).
- Believe they did something wrong which is why they are in the hospital.
- May express feelings through behaviors or play including: regressing, change in sleep patterns, need for comfort and reassurance, and clingy or attention seeking behaviors.
How You Can Help
- Keep routines and involve people your preschooler knows when possible.
- Provide structure and limits.
- Provide comfort and reassurance. Explain what is going on in words your child can understand.
- Provide praise and encouragement.
- Play with your child and allow them to play what they choose.
- Provide choices to give your preschooler control and independence.
Supporting Your School-Age Child When They Are In The Hospital
School age children are learning how to compete and cooperate with others. They are also learning how to meet the expectations and standards set by others.
Your School-Ager May
- Have a fear of pain, procedures and of not waking up after procedures.
- Have misunderstanding of what is happening based on personal, family members or peer experiences with being in the hospital or medical care o Have separation concerns related to the change in their daily life such as missing school and sports and being away from their friends.
- Have modesty concerns.
- Regress in thinking, behaviors, or loss of newly learned skills.
How You Can Help
- Provide information about the hospital in words your child can understand.
- Allow lots of time for your child to ask questions o Bring favorite items, games and comfort resources (pillow or blanket).
- Encourage peer interaction, self-expression, and continued learning.
- Offer choices when able.
- Promote privacy.
Supporting Your Teen When They Are In The Hospital
Teens are learning independent decision-making and self-concept. They are concerned with body image, privacy and peer relationships.
Your Teen May
- Have a fear of being in pain. They may also fear unknowns related to their treatment.
- Have fear from being away from peers and loss of social/school status.
- Concern for body image and privacy.
- May have a hard time controlling their emotions.
- Regress in thinking, behaviors, or loss of newly learned skills.
How You Can Help
- Include your teen as member of the treatment team and decision making.
- Allow lots of time for your teen to ask questions and listen to what they have to say.
- Encourage peer interaction, self-expression, and continued learning.
- Promote privacy.