Now that we have a date for surgery, our next concern is how to possibly prepare our 2 ½ year old for a hospital stay, anesthesia, pain, and discomfort. I mean no matter how much you try, there really is no reasoning with a 2 ½ year old. Our toddler is very comfortable with his pediatrician. He calls him by name and is always excited for visits (we tend to make it fun and the choo choo train going around the office doesn’t hurt). So step number one was making a connection with his ENT (and surgeon).  Everyday we talked about the doctor and how we were going to go to his “big office” aka. The hospital. Next we talked about certain things he could see and experience in the “big office” There will be a really cool bed that goes up and down. Anytime we sat on a bed, we asked, “Does this bed go up and down?” The answer was always “no” which created some excitement for when we finally get to sit in a bed that actually goes up and down. Clothing was the next item we used to get him hyped up. We get to put on special clothes that only big boys wear!

 

Our biggest concern (and fear) was the anesthesia part. I could just picture my toddler clinging to me as the scary doctor with eyes glaring over his white mask came at him full force with the mask. We needed to think of something fun and familiar that would make him comfortable with this mask. Recently our toddler has peaked an interest in Batman. And not the new animated Batman, the classic TV show with Adam West. He sings the theme song and has proclaimed himself as Batman (and even funnier, his Mimi as Robin).  We started showing him pictures online of kids with the anesthesia masks over their nose and mouth. (Keep in mind we only used pictures where the children looked relaxed, awake, and most importantly- happy) We correlated the “cool” mask with Batman- “you’re going to get to wear an awesome mask and be JUST LIKE BATMAN”

 

Anytime someone came over, we initiated the topic in conversation.

–          Did you tell (so and so) you get to go to the “big office”?

–          Are you going to get a cool bed that goes up and down?

–          And you get to wear special clothes that only big boys wear!

–          How about the awesome mask you get to wear like Batman!?

 

Everyone got excited when HE told them the details, which made him more and more excited. The night before we made sure he knew where we were going. We wanted to make sure everything wasn’t a big shock for him and there were several aspects of the event that he could directly connect with- the bed, changing the clothes, and the mask. In our case the interest in Batman happened at the perfect time, but the mask can be for any super hero or even scuba diver. Go pretend scuba diving a few times before surgery to look for cool fish!

How did you prep your toddler for surgery? Just found out your child needs surgery? Read Surgery – One Word A Parent Never Wants To Hear!