[Natttmumm]

DD age 3 is booked for a sleep study. She is really scared of doctors and nurses and i know she will be beside herself getting the cords attached. Any tips on how to get though this??

[50ftqueenie]

You could start role playing the experience at home. Take it in turns being the Doctor and patient, pretend to stick some string to her clothes with sticky tape. My DD loves role play and sticky tape, this would be a fun game for her.

[Shirley Sue]

I second what 50ftqueenie said. You could also purchase a doctor/nurse kit from a discount store.

Does she have a favourite toy that she could bring along to comforter her?

Also, if you talk through with her what will happen and remain calm and confident yourself this may alleviate some distress.

Is there a particular reason why she is scared?

[Natttmumm]

Thanks for the tips. As a one year old she ended up in hospital having some very intrusive tests. Since then she screams at the site of a doc or nurse not sure if she remembers but it seems she must.
I have been trying to tell her what it will be like and she keeps crying sayings she's not going.

Hoping for the best

[zogee]

My dd had one of these but she was 4, my husband took her as our son was bf through the night. It was pretty uncomfortable for her with all the monitors etc. Im sure my husband would tell you don't expect to get much sleep (they only need 2-3 hrs of sleep to do the test) my dd fell asleep @ 9:30pm and woke up at 5am, which they said was pretty good! The staff were really great and let her have ice cream after supper and she watched a DVD too. That was enough novelty to get her to co operate initially. Good luck xxx

[farmgal]

Our son has sleep studies every year. We find taking a DVD player along makes it much easier. We take a few of his favourite DVDs along and maybe a new one too. That keeps him happy while all the wires are being attatched.

I think certainly explaining what will happen before hand and maybe role playing with a doll would help. You could even get her to stick blutack on the dolls head with string for wires etc and try to make it fun, that may then relax her when it is happening to her.

Good luck.