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Promoting Comfort

Ways Parents/Caregivers Can Help Promote Their Child's Comfort

1. Gather information. Know why your child needs a procedure, how the procedure may feel and how long it is likely to last.Consider being with your child during the procedure.

2. Be honest and sensitive. Explain to your child why they need the procedure and what they can expect to feel, see and hear. Be honest with your child about what might feel comfortable/ uncomfortable. Try to avoid creating undue concern for your child.

3. Encourage curiosity and exploration. Becoming familiar with the health care facility and understanding the equipment that will be used during treatment or diagnosis is very important to a child. Help your child learn about the purpose of the examination and the medical equipment with which they will come in contact.

4. Reassure your child. Make sure your child knows that the hospital, doctor’s office or clinic is a place to support health and growth.

5. Use simple language. When describing a medical procedure try to use words that do not have double meanings which can be threatening. You can use the word “medicine” instead of “dye”, “bed on wheels” or “narrow bed” instead of “stretcher”, etc.

6. Listen to your child’s concerns. Let your child know that it is okay to ask questions, cry and talk about feelings.

7. Give your child choices. Allowing children to take a more active role in procedures, such as deciding which finger gets stuck with a needle, or whether they sit on the examining table or on a parent’s lap for an injection can help lessen anxiety related to potentially painful procedures.

8. Help your child manage pain. Many coping strategies can be used to help reduce anxiety and perceptions of pain or discomfort for your child. You might teach your child that deep, steady breathing can help them cope with discomfort, or let them squeeze your hand and say “ouch!” or “that hurt!” Every child is unique. You may find that distracting your child with books, songs, blowing bubbles, video games or music can promote coping. Other children do best with quiet time, to watch and process the procedure.

9. Comfort your child. Touching is an important part of healing. If medical needs prevent you from holding or rocking your child, you may still be able to stroke your child or hold their hand.

10. When appropriate, encourage play. Children learn about their world and how to cope by playing. Play gives children control and a way to work out and understand their feelings. Playing with puppets, painting pictures, telling stories, before and after a procedure are some meaningful ways to teach children about their health-care needs and experiences.