Your job as a parent is to comfort your child.

DURING THE PROCEDURE:

Your presence may help your child during the procedure, especially if the procedure allows you to maintain physical contact. If the procedure is performed at the hospital or your health care provider's office, you may be given the opportunity to be present. If you are not sure whether you are allowed to be present, ask.

If you think you may become ill or anxious, consider keeping your distance but remaining in your child's line of vision. If you are not able to be present, leaving a familiar object with your child may be comforting.

Avoid showing your anxiety. This will only make your child feel more upset. Research has suggested that children are more cooperative if their parents have taken measures (such as anxiety reducing acupuncture) to reduce their own anxiety.

Other considerations:

• Ask your provider to limit the number of strangers entering and leaving the room during the procedure, because this can raise anxiety.
• Ask that the provider who has spent the most time with your child be present during the procedure.
• Ask that anesthesia be used where appropriate to reduce the level of discomfort your child will feel.
• Ask that painful procedures not be performed in the hospital bed, so that the child does not associate pain with the hospital room.
• If you are in your child's line of sight, imitate the behavior the child needs to do, such as opening the mouth.
• Ask if a low sensory environment can be created.

Images

Preschooler test

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Review Date: 04/19/2010
Reviewed By: Jennifer K. Mannheim, ARNP, Medical Staff, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Seattle Children's Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)