Preparing for Your Child's Hospital Visits for Heart Disease

Parents are the most important people in a child's life. When your child has to come to the hospital, you need to help them start to understand what will happen and why.

Encourage them to ask questions.

Use your child's age and the types of questions they ask to guide in getting them ready for the hospital.

While personalities differ, there are basic guidelines that can help you and others talk with your child about coming to the hospital.

We've listed these guidelines below, based on your child's age:

• Infants and young kids.
• School-age children.
• Teens.

We've included the people — parents, care team members, and others — who may talk with your child during their hospital stay. And we offer ways how each type of person might best talk about your child's treatment and hospital experiences.

Infants and young children are most upset when they must be apart from their homes and parents. They don't trust strangers.

Very young children can't grasp why unpleasant things are happening. Shots are especially hard for them.

In helping children of this age with trips to the hospital, give special attention to:

• Making plans to stay with them.
• Keeping normal schedules.
• Bringing their favorite toys or other items that may help comfort them.

These efforts will help your child feel safe and secure.

Parents/Family

What

• Honestly explain to your child when you will be with him.
• Keep it brief and simple.

When

• 1 or 2 days before an office visit or hospital stay.
• 1 or 2 days before shots.
• Right before other hospital procedures.

How

• Try medical play.
• Make time for simple, brief discussions.
• Tour the hospital.

Where

• At home.
• The doctor's office.

Your Child's Heart Care Team

What

• Explain the treatment you're about to perform.
• Keep it brief and simple.

When

• At the time of the child's heart procedure.

How

• Give a brief, simple description with the support of the child's parents.
• Help the child know what to expect and try to put them at ease.

Where

• At the site of the child's heart care.

Other Special People

What

• Coloring or story books about a hospital stay.
• Gifts of toys for the hospital stay.

More tips for your young child's hospital stay

• Stay with your child in the hospital as much as you can. Spending the night can help comfort them.
• Ask staff if you can stay with your child during stressful events or treatments.
• Ask staff for “time out" when either you or your child feel overwhelmed.
• Describe your child's routine to the nurses — such as feeding, naps, and bedtimes. Ask that it stay the same as much as possible.

School-age children have a better sense than young kids of why they must come to the hospital. But they still feel sad and scared.

They're very involved in school, routines, and friendships. Changes that may happen because of their hospital stay often upsets them.

They fear they will be different than their peers and excluded from friends and their activities. They hate shots and carry this awful memory home with them.

Giving your school-age child the chance to actively explore their new surroundings and plan for their hospital stay can help prepare them.

Parents/Family

What

• Describe all planned heart procedures.
• Explain why your child needs them.
• Urge them to ask questions.
• Share your own feelings.

When

• Give your child enough time — often a few weeks before an event — to find healthy ways to cope with upcoming stress.
• Give them a chance to tell friends and adjust their school and social schedules.

How

• Use simple terms and reading materials.
• Tour the hospital.

Where

• At home.
• The doctor's office when first planning for a hospital stay.
• The hospital.

Your Child's Heart Care Team

What

• Give a simple description of the treatment and why it helps the child.
• Let them know what to expect.
• Encourage and answer questions.

When

• At the time of and during the child's procedure.
• Make yourself free to answer questions any time prior treatment.
• Tailor plans to a school-age child's needs and wishes when possible.

How

• Use simple language and terms.
• Avoid complex details or anything else that might scare the child.

Where

• Your medical office.
• By phone.

Other Special People

What

• Give the child gifts of books about being sick or in the hospital.
• Talk with people who have gone through similar events. Limit it to what's important to a child.

When

• Set up a talk with others, especially if parents or the care team feel it would be helpful to the child.

How

• Avoid focusing on events that are scary or unpleasant.

Where

• Any proper place.
• The hospital.

More tips for your school-aged child's hospital stay

• Keep your child's normal routine both in and out of hospital.
• Set aside time to talk, listen, or simply be with your child when they seem to need some attention.
• Be with your during special times when they may be likely to worry, such as before bedtime or early morning.
• Give your child extra praise and support.
• Admit your own sadness about illness in a simple way.
• Invite questions and answer them simply and honestly. Avoid details that my overwhelm or confuse your child.
• Unless your child asks, omit concerns about possible complications of their treatment.
• Help your child tell their friends and other special people about their illness and upcoming hospital stay.
• Stay with your child in the hospital as much as you can.

While having feelings like those of school-age children, teens have other concerns.

They worry about body scars from treatments, the impact of heart disease on their future, and dying.

Teens who've already had many treatments may need special help in getting ready for a hospital stay.

Urge your teen to express their thoughts and concerns. Sharing how you feel about their upcoming hospital stay may help start this discussion and show it's okay to talk about feelings.

Parents/Family

What

• All planned procedures.
• Urge your child to ask questions.
• Help your teen find resources for answers or support.

When

• As soon as your teen's care team recommend treatment.
• Your child needs to be part of the decision.

How

• Honestly give as much information as your teen asks for.

Where

• The doctor's office or where you're making a treatment decision.
• At home.

Your Child's Heart Care Team

What

• Explain the teen's diagnosis and why they need treatment.
• Encourage them to ask questions about their treatment.
• Discuss the future course of their heart disease.

When

• When you give your treatment suggestion to the parents and child.

How

• Be honest. but comforting about treatment.
• Tailor treatment plans to a teen's needs and wishes when you can.

Where

• Your office or clinic.
• By phone.
• The hospital.

Other Special People

What

• Give them books and other sources of hope and support.
• Talk with people who have gone through similar events. Limit it to what matters to a teenager.

When

• Set up time for the teen to talk others, especially if parents or the care team feel it would be helpful.

How

• Include the teen's parents and care team in the discussion if needed.

Where

• Any place that works for all involved in the talk.

More tips for your teen's hospital stay

• Allow time for talking things over with your child.
• Share your feelings, concerns, and hopes with your teen.
• Give your teen frequent praise and support. Reassure them often of their strengths in dealing with this stressful time.
• Check with your teen often about how you can support and help them.
• Let your child be alone or have private time with friends or trusted care team members.
• Help your teen realize any feelings of dependency due to treatments or hospital stays are short-term.
• Encourage your teen to stay in touch with friends while in the hospital through visits and phone calls.
• Arrange to be with your teen in the hospital when they need you.