What do I tell my other children?
It is best to be honest with them. Provide them with the information they seek. However, give them the amount and detail that is appropriate for their age. Very young children ask simple questions and need simple answers. Refer to the new baby by his/her first name, as for any other member of the family.
What are some common reactions of young children to having a baby in the NICU?
Even very small children can sense that you are upset or sad, and their lives will certainly be altered by your emotional state and the time needed to be with your new baby.
Common reactions include:
- Thinking THEY CAUSED the baby to come early or be sick. Magical thinking is very common in children 2-6. This is believing that thoughts or wishes can make things happen.
- They will not be happy about sharing their parents with a new sibling even though the idea of a new brother/sister may be exciting.
- They may have wished for the baby not to be born, or they may have accidentally kicked your tummy when being held and think that is why the baby is early and sick. Assure them that they did not cause the baby to come early or to be sick.
- Thinking that they made you sad or upset by something that they did or said. Acknowledge that you are sad and unhappy, but assure them that it is not because of something that they did or said, but because the new baby is so small or sick.
- Acting out. Their family environment and their usual routine are changed, and they can sense that those around them are emotionally upset. This makes them feel insecure. They express this by acting out, the only way they know to get more attention. Try to find someone whom they know well and like (grandparent, close friend, favourite babysitter) who can provide them with extra attention, not just when you are gone but when you are at home too. Also, stick to their usual routine as much as possible, such as time for naps, bed, meals and other activities. If they are in day care or preschool, let their teacher know what is going on so s/he can provide more understanding and attention.
- Feeling insecure, left out or alone. Try the approaches listed under Acting Out. Assure your child that you still love him/her just as much as before the baby came. If your baby’s NICU has sibling visitation, bring your child to visit the new brother or sister.
Thinking they are sick too. Having more tummy aches, or other hurts. Try above approaches for increasing attention to them. - Fearing that they will catch the baby’s illness. Most children know that the common illness which they have experienced are spread by contact with someone who is ill (colds, chickenpox, etc.). Assure them that they and you cannot get the baby’s illness.
- Wondering who will care for ME when the baby comes home? Show them that they are still very important to you and to the family. Talk to them about ways that they can make the baby part of the family. Show them that you are proud of things that they can do for themselves that babies can’t.
- Regressing. When children are emotionally stressed, they often regress; that is, return to less mature behaviour. For example, they may have more “accidents” if recently potty trained. They may stop using newly acquired words or refuse to dress themselves. They may start thumb sucking again, use a pacifier more often, want a bottle, or return to using a security blanket. Don’t scold, punish, or talk negatively to them about these behaviours. They are a child’s way of telling you that s/he needs more of your love and attention. When the child feels secure again, s/he will return to the former level of development.
Should my other children visit my new baby?
Most nurseries encourage the baby’s brothers and sisters (siblings) to visit. Studies have shown that children who visit are more responsive to their mothers and to the new baby than those who do not visit and for whom the baby remains a stranger while in the NICU. No negative effects have been identified. Children do not usually show signs of fear or anxiety and most want to, and should be encouraged to, come back again. The visits should be planned with the age of the child in mind. The length of the visit should be appropriate to the child’s attention span. Often very young children only want to stay a few minutes. Children over five may need more time to feel comfortable. They are more aware of how the baby is different from full term babies and may need to be encouraged to interact with the baby.
Nurseries have rules/guidelines for sibling visits. Find out about them so that you can plan their visit.
Common NICU Rules:
- Children should be healthy, not have fever, a cold, diarrhoea, vomiting, coughing or sneezing.
- Children should not have recent exposure to communicable diseases such as chicken pox, roseola.
- Children should wash hands and follow other procedures for visitors in the nursery.
- Children should be supervised during the visit. It is best to have two adults when a child is visiting, so one can supervise the child once he/she is through visiting.
- Children should remain at the bedside of their own sibling, and not be allowed to go from bed to bed or run around the nursery.
Prepare Your Children in Advance for Their Visits
Give them an idea of the size of the baby. Often small children expect a life-sized playmate. A picture of the baby will help.
Describe where the baby will be (e.g., in a room with many other babies and people and sounds, including alarms; in an isolette or on a bed under a warmer). If you have a picture of the baby, go over some of the things in the picture and why they are there: the isolette keeps the baby warm; wires attached to the baby’s chest with patches to be sure the baby is breathing OK; patches over the eyes to keep out bright light; etc. If you don’t have a picture of your own baby, try drawing a picture for your children, or show them pictures from a book.
Assure the children that the various things that are in, around, or attached to the baby don’t hurt, but are needed to help the doctors and nurses take care of the baby.
Tell the children what they can do to visit with their brother/sister. This includes talking to the baby and usually touching the baby.
Encourage the children to bring something for the baby to help them feel the baby is really their brother/sister and a part of the family. This can be a picture of themselves, a picture they have drawn or painted, or something for the isolette such as a small toy or balloon.
What are common concerns of children while visiting?
Pay attention to your children’s comments and emotional reactions during the visit, and help them understand the things that worry them.
Common worries include:
- Why are the baby’s eyes covered? Why are the baby’s eyes shut? Can s/he see?
- Does ______ hurt the baby (monitors, IVs, eye patches, etc.)?
- Worries about being in the isolette. Will they ever get out? How do they get out?
- Will the baby grow more hair?
- How does the baby eat? Can I feed the baby?
- Can I hold the baby, or, why can’t I hold the baby?
After the visit, ask them if they have questions about the baby, about the nursery and how they feel about their brother/ sister. Make them feel that their visit was important for the baby, that how they feel is important to you, and that they are as important to you as the baby is.
My baby is dying, what do I tell my children?
It is important to be honest with your children, don’t try to hide everything from them. They will see that you are sad and upset.
Acknowledge that you are very sad, but emphasise that they didn’t cause you to be that way. Let them see that it is OK to express emotions, but don’t necessarily expect them to show similar emotions.
Do NOT use the following terms for death:
- “went to sleep” They will fear dying during naps and at night.
- “God’s will”, or “God took him/her because s/he was so good or so special”. They may fear God will decide to take them too.
- “too sick” They will fear illness.
- “went on a trip” They will fear travel, for themselves or others.
Assure them they will not die. The baby died because he/she was so small, (but you are big).
Assure them that they did not cause the baby to die.
Don’t force them to kiss or touch the baby just before or after death. For a young child, it may be disturbing or confusing to see the body after death. Older children can be given a choice. Some children desire proof that the baby really is dead or that death is not mutilating. For any age, helping the child pick out a good-bye gift (toy, picture, or token of love) to leave with the baby may help in understanding and accepting the baby’s death.
Be sure they understand that most grown-ups and children who go to the hospital get better and come home. Give examples from your own experience. This is especially worth emphasising when they, you, a friend or relative subsequently need to be hospitalised or if there is another death in the family.
Help them make a scrap book or picture book to remember the baby.
(Source: the Meriter foundation)
