C
old metal instruments, strange machines, doctors and nurses—
a hospital or doctor's office can be a scary place for a child.
Past painful experiences don't help, as even the sight of a waiting
area or exam room can trigger negative associations. Once a child
is panicked, it becomes much more difficult to administer a shot or
place an IV. So what can parents do about it?
"Many parents think they need to be hands-off during their child's
medical visits," says Kelly Anson, Child Life Specialist at Children's
Mercy. "We've found that when parents are allowed to actively comfort
their child, the procedure goes a lot more smoothly and the child's
perception of doctors' visits improves over time."
THE ABCs OF COMFORT
Anson encourages parents to use the following soothing
techniques:
• Application of topicals—Prior to a procedure, ask a nurse if
your child will receive some form of topical analgesic, which
is a numbing cream or spray that is absorbed through the
skin. When applying the analgesic, Child Life Specialists at
Children's Mercy use positive reinforcement to put children at
ease. It may be helpful to say things such as, "This will make
it feel much better," or "You're doing such a good job—it'll be
over before you know it!"
•
Binkies, blankets, bears, bubbles or books—Whatever item
is familiar and comforting to your child, bring it with you to the
hospital or doctor's office. Bring both a cuddly item (stuffed
animal) and a distracting item (interactive toy). A tablet
device with cartoons and games is a popular and effective
distraction.
• Comfort positioning—Research shows that a child can feel
a loss of control when made to lie down during procedures,
which can invoke fear. This position can also be perceived
as an invasion of privacy and body space, resulting in anger,
frustration and a loss of trust in adults. For this reason, Anson
recommends comfort positioning, where the child is held in
a parent's arms or lap.
To learn more about our Child Life services, visit
www.childrensmercy.org/ChildLife.
What's Your
Position?
• The hug hold—the child faces the
parent while being held closely
against the parent's chest.
• The cradle hold—the child sits
across the parent's lap while being
gently cradled.
• The sitting-up hold—the child sits on
the parent's lap facing out (ideal for
older children).
?
?
Learn
how
to
soothe
your
little
one
during
a
medical
visit.
?
?
KEEP
CALM
AND
CARRY
A
BINKY
2 Safe & Sound Winter 2015
