How Hospitals Comfort and Care Kids with RSV or Flu
Winter can be a mix of emotions for kids living with serious illnesses.
Most children look forward to joyful celebrations and festive fun; others face a different kind of worry: Will I get the flu or RSV? Will I have to stay at the hospital again?
Flu and RSV season peak during the winter months, making it especially hard for kids with weakened immune systems or respiratory illnesses. Approximately 58,000 to 80,000 children under five years old are hospitalized each year for RSV, and another 20,000 are hospitalized for flu complications. (1) (2)
Some kids are even hospitalized more than once during this season. Repeat hospital stays for days and weeks at a time can turn hospitals, places meant for care, into a place of fear and anxiety.
That’s why it’s so important to ensure hospitals have the tools they need to help kids with the flu or RSV feel comfortable during their stay. When staff are able to provide comforting and joyful experiences to kids, it builds a foundation for trust, cooperation, and personalized care.
What Hospitals Do for Kids: Kaiden’s Story
Seven-year-old Kaiden lives with asthma, which makes him more vulnerable during the respiratory illness season. He’s a repeat visitor to his hospital during these months.
One year, Kaiden was admitted right before Halloween. He was disappointed and really didn’t like it. He stayed shy and quiet around hospital staff, including Shannon, his Child Life Specialist.
Shannon wanted to help Kaiden feel supported and comfortable. She took time to get to know him and learned about his love for wizards and fantasy! Shannon knew just the thing that would brighten Kaiden’s stay – a Wizards-themed LEGO set from the Starlight Toy Delivery program.
As soon as he saw it, Kaiden lit up with a big smile. All he could think about was playing with his favorite thing -- wizards! The hospital didn't feel so scary at that moment; it was just fun.
“This was the PERFECT kit,” Shannon recalls. “He and his mom were so appreciative.”
The Wizards-themed LEGO set was a gateway for Shannon to build an ongoing connection with Kaiden. Now, the next time he’s admitted for a hospital stay, she can personalize his care and create a better hospital experience.
Shannon shares, “Now I know what he loves and will be saving him all the Wizard kits and fun we have!”
Starlight Toys: A Key Tool for Comfort and Trust
Kaiden and Shannon’s story illustrate how resources like Starlight Toy Deliveries are key opportunities for staff to build rapport with kids.
In a recent study among Starlight’s hospital partners, 78.8% said when kids played with toys, there were more opportunities for them to interact with their healthcare team, opening spaces to express concerns and build trusting relationships.
When hospital staff can create positive experiences for kids, they feel less afraid, are more willing to cooperate with treatment, and experience less medical trauma.
Deliver Comfort and Play
The peak of flu and RSV season is here. Right now, tens of thousands of kids will spend part of their winter in the hospital.
You can help make a kid’s hospital stay easier and more comfortable by ensuring hospitals are fully stocked with Starlight Toy Deliveries that help kids cope. Shannon shares why continued support for hospitals through programs like Starlight are so crucial:
“We are able to bring smiles to kids’ faces and make them less scared through play. Especially for patients that we see multiple times a year, it allows new toys and new items to be brought to rooms for continued coping and play.”
- Shannon, Certified Child Life Specialist
Join us in giving kids ear-to-ear smiles, comfort and play.
That way, they can trust, not fear, the hospital and staff caring for them.
Donate now.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 30). RSV in Infants and Young Children. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/infants-young-children/index.html CDC
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. (2024, September). Flu and Children. https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/flu-and-children/ nfid.org
