Preparing Your Child for an MRI

MRI scans are often-stressful experiences for kids, and I've seen how they can often be just as stressful for parents, too.   

Today, I want to help you and your child feel more at ease going into the MRI room.  

I’ll share insights from my 12 years of experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist on what to expect and how to prepare your child for a successful MRI. 

While I'll be sharing some general tips, it is always a good idea to also reach out to your hospital’s child life team to discuss your hospital’s protocols and any specific support and resources that are available to you there. 

What Happens During the MRI

An MRI takes a very detailed picture and is one of the ways that doctors can see what’s going on inside your child’s body.  Your medical team will specify what part of the body needs to be scanned, and, depending on the part of the body and the level of detail required in the pictures, the length of the procedure will vary.    

The MRI machine and its process for taking pictures doesn’t cause any pain! This is a common fear for many kids. Some children may get an IV inserted as part of getting their procedure if they need contrast or sedation, but the picture-taking itself does not hurt. 

If your child needs an IV, I recommend reaching out to your hospital’s child life specialist for support with that procedure. 

Loud Noises and Sounds

During the MRI, there will be loud noises as the machine is taking its pictures.  

Some kids have said the sounds make them think of a robot or construction noises they’ve heard on the street.  

Even though getting an MRI might be a new experience for a child, it can be helpful to remind them of other, similar experiences he or she has had in the past, like taking an x-ray or even having their picture taken with your phone.   

Just as a child moving will cause a photo on your phone to be blurry, the same thing will happen if they move during an MRI, and their medical team might not be able to see what they're looking for as clearly. 

Many hospitals allow children to listen to music during an MRI. You can ask your child life specialist or MRI tech if your child can request what they listen to.  If this is an option, a fun way to engage your child and give them a sense of control in preparing for the exam is to think about what kind of music they might want to have playing. 

What the Machine Looks Like

I always recommend showing your child a picture of the MRI machine in advance. You can help build a sense of familiarity and reduce anxiety towards the procedure by engaging in conversation about what the machine looks like to each of you.  

A lot of kids say it looks like a donut with a bed in it, while others say it looks like a spaceship. The part that is in the shape of a donut is what takes the picture, and the MRI tech will move the bed so that the part of the body being scanned is in the center of the “donut.” 

Having your child think of the MRI machine in a more fun way will hopefully make the machine feel less scary and more familiar when they do their scan. 

Practice staying still with fun games 

The key to a successful MRI is keeping your body completely still throughout the scan. Share with your child that staying still helps the picture be as clear as possible so the doctor can see what’s going on in your child’s body.  

You can prepare your child by playing games like pretending to be a statue, freeze dance or the freeze game.  

Activities like these help children increase their body awareness and familiarize themselves with the idea of staying still. 

Pack comfort items 

If you are scheduled for outpatient MRI, you might be asked to get to the hospital far in advance of your scheduled appointment time.  

There will likely be a lot of downtime, especially for your child as you will likely be asked to fill out forms and speak to hospital staff.

Bringing an activity or a comfort item like a Starlight Toy Delivery can help your child feel distracted and more at ease while they wait. 

Ask for a Starlight Hospital Gown 

Your child will need to change into a hospital gown for their MRI scan, which many kids find to be a vulnerable and anxiety-provoking experience.  

Ask your Child Life Specialist or MRI team if they have any Starlight Hospital Gowns available, which can make changing into a hospital gown a more positive and comfortable experience. 

Starlight Gowns, compared to traditional gowns, offer more coverage and are made of a more comfortable material. They also come in fun, colorful designs with kids’ favorite characters, which helps the hospital environment feel more relatable and less scary. 

Hospitals have different policies about what specific garments can be worn during an MRI, so please speak with your team to know what is possible at your facility.   

Some children require sedation for their MRIs. If your child is indicated for sedation, you can talk to your hospital’s child life specialist about what that experience will look like. 

Depending on the reason sedation might be recommended for your child, it is possible that with preparation, like medical play, some children to can complete an MRI without sedation.

Read how Jameson used the LEGO® MRI Scanner set to ease his anxiety and enter his MRI with courage and confidence. 

Sign up to join the free Starlight Families program, which bridges the gap between a child’s hospital and at-home care.  

As a Starlight Family, you get early and free access to Starlight programs and an asset library of over 100 resources developed by Child Life Specialists.  

Resources include topics around coping skills, diagnosis-specific support, pain management, and more. 

We want to be a backbone of support for you and your child as you navigate the challenges of hospitalization and serious illness. 

Become a Starlight Family today.