Children may have permanent or temporary ostomies. Often parents need immediate information and a shoulder to lean on. Children may require ostomy surgery either at birth because of a birth defect, or at a later age. In any situation, due to disease or trauma, ostomy surgery is usually only a part of the health issues faced by the child. A child's ostomy surgery affects everybody in the family.
Parents find themselves facing situations for which they are usually unprepared.
They must quickly acquire new knowledge and skills to care for their child and, at the same time, deal with their own fears and anxieties. Parents whose child requires an ostomy may feel a range of emotions. Parents who have children with similar health issues are able to respond to some of the anxiety new parents feel, as well as, offer suggestions for clothing, diapering, support groups and socializing. Parents whose child requires an ostomy may feel guilty, wondering what they could have done to prevent the problem. Children may sense these parental anxieties, and may assume a similar attitude.