3 yo old son in hospital this weekend

[wheresmyliein1973]

Morning all,

Our 3 year old DS is going into hospital on Saturday for a hernia removal under general anaesthetic. All going well, he should be home on the same day.

So here's my question - we haven't mentioned it to him yet. I'm not sure how much to tell him in advance as I don't want to scare him. Any tips?

Thanks

IMHO you must tell him in advance. How scared would you be if they just took you there and you had no idea why? There's an Usbourne book about going into hospital, why not try that? Also, I would never tell a child that it won't hurt. It will and then they will never believe you again.

Good luck! Hope he is better soon.

Yes, you do need to tell him. DS2 had teeth out under GA when he was about 4. There was a nurse who came along before the op with a little book of photos and explained it all to him. He did know already though.

Hope all goes well. x

You do need to tell him but make it a matter of fact kind of chat if you can so it doesn't sound too scarey from his point of view. Talk to him about going to the hospital, the fact there are beds there, but that there will also be toys. Talk about nurses in uniforms and doctors and other people all around. Tell him he will have a magic sleep and that you will stay with him for that and tell him the doctors are going to fix his little swelling (show him it if necessary) and then once that is done when he is feeling ok then he can come home again. It may help to tell him that he can have something special when he gets home afterwards too for being a brave boy with it all etc. Answer any questions if he has them in an honest but non scarey way.