Spending Time in the Hospital

Going to the hospital for the first time can be scary, especially for a child. The noises and sights in a children’s hospital are viewed through Alice’s eyes and can be used to acquaint a child to the new surroundings, showing that helpful doctors and nurses are there to make a child’s stay safe and comfortable.

This illustrated book introduces children to a busy hospital, from the operating theatre to the cafeteria, from X-rays to ambulances and from breakfast time to bed time.

This story follows Brandon, a young boy learning to understand and manage his bipolar disorder with the help of a comforting and supportive teddy bear. The book offers a gentle, relatable way to introduce the topic of bipolar disorder to children and encourage emotional understanding and coping strategies.

This updated edition offers vital information and practical guidance for families of children diagnosed with brain or spinal cord tumors, covering different treatments. It combines medical facts, emotional support resources, and personal stories from over 100 families to help parents navigate diagnosis, treatment, and daily challenges.

An overview of different childhood cancers and their respective treatments. The treatments outlined in this volume are intended to serve as examples. You should consult your personal physician before beginning any medical treatment regimen.

This book provides essential information for families of children with cancer, including the latest treatments and practical advice for managing medical, emotional, and financial challenges. It also features over 100 real-life stories from children with cancer, their siblings, and parents, offering both insight and emotional support.

A young girl describes her excitement of having a new brother, but she is very frustrated that her parents have to spend a lot of time with him in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

A timeline overview of a children’s diagnosis with a chronic illness through hospital visits and parents.

Thinking about our body’s functions can be scary, especially when it morphs into Health Anxiety that gets in the way. Fun Facts about the body engage children, while a Note to Parents and Caregivers and a Supplemental Resource section make this the perfect guide for parents and mental health professionals.

Spot visits his friend Tom at the hospital, but as Spot wanders off readers embark on a tour of the hospital to find him.

This story allows your child to understand the process he or she may be going through soon. Your child will be introduced to different members of the hospital staff and types of medical equipment in an easy to understand and empowering way.

When Petunia finds out that she will need to go to the hospital for surgery, she and her mom start preparing. With the help of fun activities, mental exercises, and Mr. Cuddles, Petunia is able to overcome her fears.

A young girl visits her baby sister in the NICU and learns how the doctors and nurses take care of her sister.

This comprehensive book contains information about taking care of a premature infant, including feeding, medical complications, life at home, and much more.

This resource provides evidence-based strategies for effective, patient-centered communication across diverse healthcare settings, emphasizing value-based care and improved patient outcomes. It is especially useful for speech-language pathologists and healthcare professionals working with vulnerable populations facing communication challenges due to disabilities, health literacy, or cultural and linguistic differences.

This book is a lighthearted introduction to Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), which is an inherited genetic predisposition to a wide range of cancers. Reading this book with young children creates a safe space for questions and conversation.

In this book, children and young people explain in their own words what it is like to live with their brothers and sisters, and talk about their feelings of love and frustration, joy and sadness. Full of tips and advice to help siblings cope with their feelings and other issues, this book also provides clear explanations of medical words and different disabilities.

Siblings have an important role in families with infants in the NICU. This book includes developmentally appropriate suggestions of how to communicate with siblings of all ages about a premature baby.

Sunday, a kid with an ocean-sized imagination, is nervous about her upcoming ear surgery. With the additional help of a few “rules”, her parents, and some kind doctors and nurses, she soon learns surgery isn’t so scary after all. It actually makes her feel a whole lot better!

Having a child with a new Bi-polar diagnosis can often be a scary and confusing time, this book aims to answer the most common questions as parents navigate this new journey.

Dr. Christle Nwora takes readers behind the scenes to meet the incredible people who keep you healthy, from surgeons to mental health therapists. Dr. Nwora also explains the science behind how things work, from X-rays to operating theaters. Set over the course of one day, you’ll follow different patients through their trip to the hospital.

Explore the human body up close and discover how incredible it is! From the air we breathe and the food we eat, to the muscles that help us move and the heart that pumps our blood, the hidden wonders of the human body are revealed.

This comprehensive guide helps parents navigate the NICU experience by explaining medical terms, equipment, common conditions, and how to collaborate with the healthcare team. It also offers practical advice for caring for their baby after discharge, along with inspirational stories from other NICU families, and updated information on topics like COVID-19, postpartum depression, breastfeeding, and newborn pain management.

This book helps answer parents’ questions about raising a baby in the first year and provides helpful tips for those common questions.

This is a guide that covers what to expect when you are in the hospital frequently with a child.

This article presents ways that parents and caregivers can help children face their fears.

Child Life specialists are professionals who work in hospitals with children with the aim of helping children through stressful situations and families cope with having a child in the hospital. The ACLP is a national organization which monitors all specialists while providing information to families about every aspect of what the specialists do.

A short video about going through the process of surgery. This video explains in a child-friendly way what to expect and what will happen by following a patient’s surgery experience.

A short video about going through a chest CT scan. The video explains in a child‑friendly way how the machine works, what will happen, and why doctors use CT images of the chest.

A short video on what it is like to have an EEG. The video explains in a child-friendly way how an EEG works by following a patient’s experience getting an EEG.

A short video about getting an MRI scan. The video explains in a child-friendly way what an MRI is and what will happen by following a patient’s MRI experience.

A short video about going through the Chemotherapy process. The video explains in a child-friendly way what chemotherapy is and what will happen by following a patient’s experience.

This video aims to ease anxieties children and parents may have about anaesthetics, giving them a clear idea about what might happen during a family’s hospital visit. It takes the viewer on an authentic journey from entering hospital to going home, including undergoing a general anaesthetic and waking up after surgery.

This video explores the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for parents and other caregivers. For parents, having a new baby can be an overwhelming experience filled with excitement and nervousness. But some parents might find their baby being admitted to NICU which by the name alone, can add to their feelings of stress. Parents can find themselves confused about the reason for their newborn’s admission, the interventions provided, opportunities for parental involvement in the baby’s care and the healthcare team.

“Learning about doctors for kids is not only an educational social studies activity, but it is also a way that parents can teach children about who a doctor is and what a doctor does. Instruction and preparation go a long way in calming any fears that young children may have about going to get a child check-up. Children are less afraid of a medical situation if they learn about what happens at a doctor’s visit and the importance of doctors.”

The Family Coping Initiative team at Boston Children’s discusses ways to reduce anxiety for children who have fears of medical places and practices or have had negative experiences that make it difficult for them to come to a medical setting.

Doctor’s appointments don’t have to be scary. The Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness team shares tips to ease anxiety and create positive experiences for kids.

In a video meant for a NICU waiting room, parents of children who have been previously admitted to the NICU explain what it’s like and give advice for parents sitting where they once were.

This guide will help prepare parents for what can be expected before, during and after a child’s MRI.

A short video about going through the surgery process. The video explains in a child-friendly way what surgery is and what will happen by following the patient’s experience.

Deciding when to take your child to an urgent care clinic instead of the emergency room can be a confusing choice for parents. In this video, Seattle Children’s provide the A-B-C’s of deciding when to visit an Urgent Care Clinic vs. the Emergency Room. Urgent Care Clinics are not intended for life-threatening emergencies, but is appropriate for minor illnesses and injuries such as sprains, cuts, head injuries without loss of consciousness, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, ear-aches, and mild asthma attacks.

This video for parents contains a detailed explanation and demonstration of the pediatric anesthesia process, including all of the activities inside the operating room. Please be aware that this video contains scenes showing O.R. procedures being performed on a sleeping child, which may be disturbing for small children to view. Parental discretion is advised.

Some parents know their baby will spend time in the NICU. For others, it’s unexpected. Here’s what you can expect if your newborn needs continuing care after labor and delivery.

This article provides some basic tips and tricks on how to best prepare children for their doctor’s office trips while reducing anxiety and fear.

This article offers parents practical guidance for preparing emotional and logistically when their baby may require a prolonged stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital Colorado. It emphasizes fostering parental bonding, accessing resources like temporary bousing and emotional support, and encouraging self-care to help families navigate this challenging period.

This page helps families understand what to expect before, during, and after a child’s surgery, including clinic visits, day-of-surgery procedures, and post-operative care. It provides practical information to help parents feel prepared and support their child through the surgical experience.

Play is a vital part of your child’s healing process during a hospital stay, helping them cope with stress, express their feeling, and feel more comfortable in a medical environment. This article explains how different type of play like fun activities, developmentally appropriate games, and therapeutic play can support your child’s emotional and physical well-being while they’re hospitalized.

A helpful guide for parents and caregivers on how to entertain children while waiting on medical results.

This article aims to guide parents through what to expect when their baby is admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), offering clear explanations of NICU roles, routines, and how families can engage in their baby’s care. It’s designed to reduce anxiety, empower with practical knowledge, and help foster bonding and confidence during a challenging hospital stay.

This article offers essential guidance to help parents prepare both emotionally and practically when their child needs surgery, covering key strategies like managing parental stress, communicating clearly with the child, and familiarizing them with hospital routines. Its goal is to reduce anxiety both yours and your children by promoting informed preparation, confident understanding, and supportive care throughout the surgical experience.