My child is in the hospital

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Many children have to go to hospital at some point. Parents can do a lot themselves to make their offspring's stay fear-free and as pleasant as possible.

Children's hospitals want to make it as easy as possible for the little ones to adapt to the unfamiliar environment. The nursing staff is not only specially trained from a medical point of view, but is also geared to the special needs and problems of the little protégés. Often there are guides for parents on the wards, in which the daily routine of the ward is described in detail.

In addition, parents can often take on part of the care of their child and do not have to leave everything to the sisters and carers who are strangers to the child. Mum and Dad are part of the hospital routine. So it is usually not a problem if parents come to their child in the hospital in the morning and stay with him until the evening when he sleeps. Your child will be happy if you visit them as often as possible and go through all the examinations and therapies with them.

Tip: Do not be afraid to speak to the staff and express your questions or wishes regarding your child.

Don't leave your child alone!

It is particularly important that a child does not stay alone in the hospital. Mum, dad or another close caregiver should be around him as often as possible.

Until a few years ago, there was relatively little knowledge of how a hospital stay affects a child's psychological development. Restricted visiting times at certain hours of the day were still the rule in children's clinics.

In the meantime, the clinics take into account the knowledge that children suffer a real loss through separation from their parents. For some children, the breakup can even be traumatic.

Since such psychological mechanisms are better known today, it has become common practice for a parent to be accommodated in the hospital together with the child (e.g. on "mother-child wards"). Children can cope with the hospital and the separation from their familiar surroundings so much better.

What your child is afraid of in the hospital

It's not just being alone that scares children. In the hospital, a child also encounters many unfamiliar people, including nurses and doctors, who are often intimidating with their medical routine. In addition, there is unfamiliar food, strange smells, unknown noises and a completely different daily routine than at home. This is very stressful and frightening for a child, especially since it is there anyway because of an unpleasant illness or complaint. It is therefore a good idea to stay close to your child whenever possible. So you give him a feeling of security.

Also tell your child that you will stay with them and not leave them alone. Of course, this must also be the case. If you (have to) go away, say exactly when you will come back and stick to it. It is better to say that you will come back a little later, even if you can be there earlier than the other way around. Children need a feeling of stability, especially in the hospital situation.

Also, always try to explain to your child what is happening. You can also tell him what will happen before an exam and answer his questions. This can take away your child's fear. A doctor or a nurse will surely help you with this. As a parent, you can stay with your child for many examinations.

Do not talk shop with the doctor in the presence of the child; it might feel left out. Include it in the conversation and don't hide what's going to happen. If the exam is going to hurt, prepare a child for it and never say otherwise. This would cause a child to lose confidence in their parents.

This is how your child feels comfortable

»Preparation: If you can prepare your child for hospitalization, it will be of great help to everyone. There are now good children's books on the subject of hospitals that you can read with your child. Perhaps you can introduce your child to the subject by buying them a toy doctor's kit. However, you need to be prepared that, even if your child likes to be examined while playing, they may react completely differently when they come to the hospital.

»Explain, don't scold: You shouldn't expect the child to behave" properly "when things get serious. You should also under no circumstances scold your child if he defends himself during examinations, but rather explain everything that is going on. Perhaps the child can also be shown some instruments so that they can become familiar with them. Very important: Do not threaten your child with the doctor or nurse if, for example, they are not eating well or are not behaving well.

»Finding the right time: You too should prepare yourself mentally for the fact that your child may have to go to the hospital one day. If you have thought through this situation beforehand, you can keep a cool head in an emergency. In principle, it is known from developmental psychological studies that children between the ages of two and three suffer most from uncontrollable fears and separation from their parents. So is the procedure that your child has to undergo not an emergency (such as an acute illness), but for example a small operation that can still wait a few months (such as the operation of a phimosis = foreskin tightening) , discuss the best possible time with your pediatrician! You may then be able to take early leave from work so that you can be with your child.

»Take familiar things with you: With your favorite teddy, your favorite pacifier and your favorite pillow, your child will get used to the strange atmosphere much better.

»Play: Games make it easier for children to come to terms with drastic experiences. You should therefore definitely play with your child in the hospital. Reading fairy tales and other stories together can also contribute to recovery in this sense. Some parents of older children also bring their offspring their favorite computer game to the clinic.

»Visiting other children: If your child goes to kindergarten or elementary school, you can find out whether the other children can come to visit. In some hospitals there are special "children's days" for this. The children are shown around and they are told what it is like to be in the hospital. Having been in one place, children often feel calmer and feel more in control and security.

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