Talking to Siblings About Treatment

Hospitalization is not only stressful for parents and patients, but for brothers and sisters who are at home as well. At Kosair Children’s Hospital, we practice family centered care. By understanding this is a difficult situation for siblings, talking to them about what is going on and reassuring their fears, parents and caregivers can make the situation easier for the entire family. Talk to your Child Life therapist about how to deal with sibling reactions. Your Child Life therapist may also be able to schedule a visit with your child’s siblings to prepare them to visit the hospital for the first time.

Some typical feelings siblings may have:

  • Guilt (about angry thoughts or wishes; feeling responsible)
  • Fear (of what is happening at the hospital; "catching" illness)
  • Anger or jealousy (toward parents or the hospitalized child)
  • Abandonment/neglect (who's going to take care of them?)
  • Rejection (feeling left out, not as important)
  • Confusion (where is their sibling?)

Ways to help:                                                 

  • Encourage brothers and sisters to visit to help ease their fears.
  • Help children express their feelings or concerns and reinforce to them that all feelings are normal.
  • Try to spend time at home, if possible, during the hospitalization.
  • If time at home isn't possible, call siblings daily and send pictures.
  • Spend time with each individual child after the hospitalization.
  • Acknowledge and try to understand siblings' feelings.
  • Use teachers, neighbors and family friends as a resource for help.
  • Try to keep a normal routine and schedule.
  • Share information with the sibling, prepare child for visits and read books about hospitals.

Some children will exhibit behavior changes as a result of a sibling’s hospitalization. Siblings may:

  • Become more demanding, clingy and whiny, and may have difficulty separating.
  • Have nightmares or difficulty sleeping.
  • Ignore you when you come home. They are telling you they need your patience and love. Usually after things settle down and the family is in the same routine, these behaviors go away.