According to Howard Bauchner, M.D., director of general pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, parents should feel comfortable remaining with their children in the ED for common procedures. I don't think that being there is enough, however. In severe cases a child may be taken to a specialized trauma suite, where family members will almost certainly be asked to leave the room. His study also concludes that parents who stay with children undergoing invasive procedures experience less anxiety than those who are not present.
Parents can soothe their children in a number of different ways.
Some children will want to hear a story, others a song, and some will be content just having their parents present. If you're tuned in to your children's needs and don't make assumptions about what they want, they'll let you know how to help. Children who are not yet talking especially benefit from being able to see, touch, and hear their parents. Parents should feel free to ask about the procedures being performed on their children, although occasionally physicians may be reluctant to explain themselves. Not all physicians feel comfortable having parents in the room when performing procedures because they feel it can affect their concentration.