Preparing young child for MRI

[catanddog]

My 3 1/2 year old dd is having an MRI scan on Friday. They are doing it without a GA as they feel she could cope well and was as good as gold during an ultrasound last week.
Anyone any experience, advice much appreciated as have turned into a panicky parent after a week of waiting and no diagnosis!

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd tell her that you, and the radiographers will be watching her all the time, even if she can't see you. There'll be some funny banging noises, but thats just the sound the machine makes to take the special pictures inside her. She'll need to lie super still as the machine needs a while to take so many pictures of her insides, and if she moves it will be all blurry.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Take a CD with you of any kiddies books/ TV programes as she'll be able to listen to it through the headphones whilst in the scanner. Also a good play specialist is always great. They will talk her through & show her pictures of what the scanner looks like. My DD did her first MRI while awake, but has had to be anethatised every time since as we didn't get very clear pictures on the waking one.

[catanddog]

Thank you, good tips!

[Parietal]

some kids MRIs do a big story about taking a rocket to different planets and listening to the rocket noises and staying still like a good astronaut