Full body

An intravenous line (IV line) is a short, small plastic tube that the healthcare team may put into your child's vein using a needle. They remove the needle and leave the plastic tube in place so they can use medicines to treat your child.

Activity is just as important for your baby or young child as it is for older tamariki (children) - it helps them to learn and grow. Check out some resources to support young tamariki to sit less, move more and sleep well.

One of the best ways adults can help young grievers is to listen to their stories. Telling their story is a healing experience.

Nitrous oxide is also known as happy or laughing gas. It is a gas that can be used to help tamariki (children) with small scans or procedures that might be stressful or painful.

A morphine infusion is a pain relieving medicine your child receives continuously through a pump. Tamariki (children) usually have it after an operation. They can also have it for other reasons.

An epidural is a very effective method of pain control used both during and after major surgery to the chest, tummy and legs.

PCA stands for patient controlled analgesia. A PCA pump is a device that allows your child to give themselves a pre-set amount of pain medicine (usually morphine), as needed, by pressing a hand-held button.

As a parent or caregiver, you know your child best. You can help staff to help your child cope with the procedure or surgery.

Parents are often the best judges of their child's pain. Listen to what they tell you and watch what they do. If worried or in doubt about your child's pain, talk to your usual health professional or if you are in hospital, a nurse or doctor.

Nightmares are bad dreams that are usually related to worries your child may have. Night terrors happen when tamariki (children) are only partly aroused or woken from deep sleep. They can be very frightening for parents and carers.