Hi! Question for Sleevers with small children...

Did/Do you plan to allow your younger child/ren to visit you during your hospital stay?

I haven't thought about it until now. But, I'm not sure if my 5 y/o could handle seeing me in those conditions. He knows that Mommy will be "getting a smaller tummy", I just don't want to scare him.

I was only hospitalized one night so my 3.5 year old didn't visit. If I had been in the hospital 2 nights, I wouldn't have let her visit either. Any longer, and I probably would have.

Good question! It doesn't apply to me but after my surgery I'm sure I looked like hell as I felt pretty out of it. My adult children got to witness that...poor kids I went home the following day. Not sure if I'd have brought young kids in to visit. If it's close by maybe you can decide after surgery and see how you feel.

I have a 4 yr old son and I was in hospital for two nights. I didn't want to scar him so I didn't have him come in. My husband brought him in to pick me up from hospital (with a lovely bunch of flowers) and he was so excited to see me and take me home. I think he asked about the purpose of every button in the room. I think having him come in did help him realize that mummy had a "sick tummy" and I needed to remind him to not jump on me often! Now my incisions are starting to heal he asked me yesterday "so can I squish you now?" Best of luck

I have an 11 y/o son who is autistic so he is more like a 5/6 y/o & he is VERY attached to me. It was hard enough for me not to be home one night that I had to be in the hospital so there was no hesitation in my husband bringing him to the hospital to visit me. Just my husband had to warn him ahead of time that he couldn't just jump on me when he saw me. So he approached me very carefully & gently & then sat across the room on the chair talking to me. He said I looked very tired. Overall, it was a good decision in our family's case but everyone is different.

The best part was that while he was there, the doctor came in to see me & told me I was being released since I was doing so well (okie dokie, hate to think how it was for people who didn't do so well...eek! ) So I got to tell my son that I was getting to go home & he couldn't help me fast enough to toss stuff in my bag so that he could help get his mommie home asap!

Good luck on your decision but I think your child will be fine & happier to see you looking tired, versus not seeing you at all. Just my opinion.

I have a 3 year old who is non verbal with autism. I plan on having my husband bring him in to see me.

Thank you all for your replies! I'm going to play things by ear. If I'm not in too much pain, I may just allow him to come up. If not, I'll have him come when I'm being discharged.

Thanks again! :-)

I have a 3 year old who is non verbal with autism. I plan on having my husband bring him in to see me.

Off topic but my son was non verbal until he was nearly 4.5 years old. Then music took him out of his silent world. I had him in therapy since he was 18 months. They had him carry 2 liter bottles of Water (old soda bottles filled with water). Something about opening his air way? I really don't remember but he loved carrying those heavy bottles. I guess it's good for them to do that. I think it's a good idea that he comes to see his mommie. Good luck to you!

I think about this, too, and I don't even have a surgery date lol. I am just weird about hospitals... I wouldn't want my 3 y/o (will be 4 by the time I have surgery I'm sure) to catch something while visiting me. But then again, I haven't been one night away from her... EVER... so I know I will miss her. She is very attached to me so I hope she handles it well...