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Some of the Mykidstime Team have made trips to hospital over the past few years for various reasons so we have compiled some tips to help.
Sometimes a trip to the hospital is planned and anticipated but even with planning it can be a scary experience for you and your child.
For a scheduled procedure e.g. tonsils removal
- Read the information provided by the hospital, especially regarding fasting. Often the child will have to fast from the night before, this means when you reach the hospital in the morning you will have a hungry (and cranky child).
- Portable DVD players are very handy, as long as the DVDs are not about food (Peppa Pig & Family seem to eat in every episode!) the trick is distraction and variety.
- Bring some toys, and take out new one every so often (there can be a lot of waiting around so you want to pass the time)).
- Bring a new colouring book and pens or crayons in a tin or pencil case
- We called the anaesthetist the “sleepy doctor” and explained to our child that they would go into a room where a doctor would help make them sleepy for the operation.
- Bedtime story books – pick a book with a few stories in it to save bringing several books with you
- Cards are good, e.g. to play snap.. basically keep them occupied and not thinking about food or drinks.
- Bring new pjs to make them feel special. For the parent who is staying you may not have a bed, so wear a tracksuit that is comfortable to sleep in, sleeping in jeans is not fun.
- Don't promise them food straight after recovery, as the nursing staff may want to wait to make sure all is ok.
- They may be very disoriented and sore after recovery, so don't over whelm them with new toys etc, give them their favourite teddy and let them snuggle until they feel a bit better. Later on give them their new toy for being brave :)
- The Children's wards often have a playroom, but the times may be limited to week day only, and if your child is in isolation they may not be permitted to enter. The play specialists will bring toys to the children, where they are in for a longer stay.
Unplanned trips
For the unplanned trip to the hospital it is doubly stressful, both parent and child are upset.
- If you are heading in alone with a sick child, arrange for someone to come in with a change of clothes for parent & child and allow time to arrange childcare if needed for other children.
- Each emergency visit to the hospital is different, but try and keep calm and keep your child reassured that the doctors and nurses will help them.
- Make sure you know where your nearest emergency clinic is located. For example, in Dublin the VHI Clinic can be used to save a trip to Temple Street (don't need to be a VHI member).
Hopefully you won't need to visit the Hospital for a while!
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