How to Make a Child with Cancer Comfortable During Treatments and Hospital Stays

There is nothing more heartbreaking than to learn that your precious child has cancer. Regardless of the stage and type of disease and how your child is feeling, it is still a very emotional struggle to deal with your child’s illness. Having cancer will require them to stay in the hospital several times, either for treatment or confinement. If hospital stays are inevitable, how can you better prepare yourself and your child, so these stays do not become synonymous with dying and not getting better from the illness? We asked pediatric endocrinologist in NJ for advice, and below are the most valuable tips for parents whose child is about to go through cancer treatment.

Let the child participate in preparing their stuff

Involving your child in preparation for the hospital stay will give them a sense of maturity. You will show them that their opinions on what to bring to the hospital matter. Have a list of things to bring so you don’t forget anything; ask your child as well what they want to bring during their stay in the hospital.

Bring them their favorite toys

To help them pass the time during treatments, ask them to bring their favorite toys or any educational materials that can come in handy during the stay. Besides toys, you can also bring story and activity books that you both can enjoy. Playing with your child will also make them feel loved and cared for. Giving them the attention that they need will reinforce their will to fight the illness.

Talk to your child

Ask the help of a professional to explain to your child why they have to stay in the hospital, and what they can expect while there. This will give your child a vision of what the medical staff will be doing for them so they can get better and battle the illness. Your child may have some questions about the disease, and what better person to help you explain them than an oncologist.

Make medication time exciting

We all know how children hate taking their medicines because they do not taste good. There are tricks you can do to make medication time appealing and not such a struggle for them. Explain to them the benefits of taking the medication, and that if they continue taking it, they will get better soon. They will look forward to receiving their meds now.

Let them pick their clothes

Hospital gowns are boring, so if they have favorite items of clothing that they love wearing – as long as they do not impede the tubes and wires attached to their bodies, then they can wear whatever they want. They will have a feeling of being at home because they are wearing their regular clothes.

When a child gets sick, they look for strength from their parents and other family members. If they see that their family is weak, they will also feel weak. As parents and family members of a cancer-stricken child, it is best to talk to people who are in the same boat to give you an idea of what to expect. And the support that you can get from them will tide you over the next months of grueling treatments and hospital stays.