Making kids feel safe in the OR

I’ve been reflecting on the ways we can enhance the comfort of pediatric patients during anesthesia induction. Recently, I used a distraction technique with a 5-year-old by letting him choose a favorite cartoon to watch while we prepared for the procedure, and it seemed to really ease his anxiety. What strategies have you found effective in making little ones feel more at ease in the OR?

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I’ve found that involving a little creativity helps too — like using a toy anesthesia machine to let them ‘operate’ on their stuffed animals. It seems to put them in control and makes the whole experience less intimidating. What kind of distractions have you seen work best besides shows?

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