2yo scared of hospitals etc after 9 operations

[elliejjtiny]

My 2 year old has had 9 operations so far, some minor (an hour or so), some major (3-4 hours). As he has got older he has got more scared of hospitals etc. He started off being frightened of people wearing scrubs, now it's any kind of clinic/hospital setting, anyone in medical uniform. He just screams uncontrollably. I hate seeing him this upset and on a practical level as he gets bigger it gets more difficult. Is there anything I can do to help him. So far I've made him a laminated photo book of photos of friendly looking people in medical uniform, including DH in scrubs from when I had my C-sections. Any other ideas?

Does the hospital have a play specialist? They may be able to help.

We play doctors at home a lot, Ds has a doctors set with extra bits we have collected on hospital trips - anesthetic masks, name bangles, old inhalers etc, so we do a lot of role play.

Thanks Sirzy. I've got a spare anaesthetic mask and an oxygen mask from last time we were in so I'll have a go at playing drs with him. I'll ask the play specialist too.

My son was 3 when he started having lots of medical treatment, and had already had a few procedures at 2 and before... so I understand what you're going through. We also did the role playing/mucking around with masks etc. Also books help: we have these which I like
www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Day-Going-Hospital/dp/0750266872/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1448054155&sr=8-16&keywords=going+to+hospital+book
www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Goes-Hospital-Story-Children/dp/1433803208/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1448054251&sr=8-19&keywords=going+to+hospital+book

He is wise beyond his years. Orthopaedics?

Thanks blackswan I'll have a look at those books.

dratsea no, not orthopaedics. He was born with a cleft lip and palate and hydrocephalus.