The researchers found that children who are attached to a security blanket get through the medical exam with little distress if they are allowed to keep their security blanket with them. Having both, the mother and the security blanket, did not markedly decrease the level of distress, and in some cases increased the stress level. Conflicting schedules sometimes mean that a mother is not able to take her child for a doctor appointment. In these situations, Dr. Carl Eisenberg, the pediatrician participating in the study, suggests that children who are attached to a security blanket keep the blanket with them during the exam. Source American Psychological Association.
Security blankets can substitute for mom during a child's routine medical exam .
Prepared for Parent News by Debbie Reese. Continue to the next article. Return to the Parent News for February 1998 contents page. Return to the NPIN home page.