Your Child in Hospital
Make Your Overnight Stay on the Ward a Success
Find out how to handle your child's stay in hospital and make the experience as positive as possible for everyone concerned.
Finding out your child has to stay in hospital is a real worry. Not only do you have the anxiety of his illness, you probably also have other family members to consider.
Your Child’s Overnight Stay in Hospital
At the earliest opportunity, explore the ward layout with your child. This will help both of you feel more comfortable. Some hospitals have a member of staff dedicated to showing you the facilities, others provide a leaflet or poster explaining the facilities and procedures.
Find out what time meals are served and whether you can eat with your child. Are you allowed to bring in food or snacks from home? A few favorite foods or drinks could be a real treat for both of you, but check hospital policy on this.
What To Bring To Hospital
One of the most important factors in making an overnight stay a success is bringing some of your child’s belongings from home. If he has a favorite teddy or comfort blanket, pack these, along with his usual nightwear and toiletries. You could also consider bringing a photo of the family together, to display near the bed.
Don’t forget yourself, especially if you’re staying overnight. Your child could be asleep a lot of the time, so take along a book you’ve been meaning to read or treat yourself to a new magazine. Having your own shower gel, dressing gown, or even a vase of flowers, will make the stay a lot more pleasant.
For a younger child, bring along a light pushchair if this is allowed. Most children enjoy a pram ride and even just a walk down the corridor is a change of scene for both of you. Being able to transport your child also means you can visit the hospital shop or cafeteria easily.
The Hospital Staff Caring For Your Child
Once you’ve settled in, find out what time of day the ward round takes place. This usually happens in the morning and will be the time when you find out most of the information about what treatment your child will be having and how he’s progressing medically.
Before the doctors visit, think of any questions you want to ask. Hospital staff are often pushed for time and can give out a lot of medical information all at once. Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the visit, but if you still have queries, find a ward nurse to speak to afterwards. Nurses are often good at putting things into understandable terms and usually have more time than a doctor to discuss any worries you have.
Family Emotions When Your Child is in Hospital
Handling the emotions of your other children can make their visit to hospital a positive time for everyone. Find out about visiting times, as siblings are sometimes allowed to call-in outside the normal visiting hours. Keep the visit to around half an hour so it doesn't become a chore to anyone concerned.
If there’s a playroom on the ward, siblings are often allowed to use this facility alongside the patient. This will give the visiting child something to look forward to and also help him relate to his sibling who’s staying on the ward.
A sibling can be worried about his ill brother or sister and not know how to express his feelings, so try to pay him plenty of attention during the visit. When it’s time to leave, giving him a small gift, such as a coloring book or stickers, from the child who’s staying in hospital is a positive way to end the visit.
Books To Prepare Your Child For Hospital
Bates, Michelle, Going to the Hospital [Usborne, 2005]
Bourgeois, Paulette, Franklin Goes to the Hospital [Scholastic Paperbacks,2000]
