How do I best comfort my 9 year old with broken arm?
He is wearing a splint for the next 3 weeks and we have to get x-rays weekly at the hospital until his arm is ready for a cast.
To the parents with experience: how can I make his (our) life easier? What are the tricks to use for showers, getting dressed,
and other daily routines?
Answer:
I'm not a parent, but I dislocated my elbow last Thurs.and know what it's like not to have an arm. You don't realize the value of opposable thumbs until they're gone.
Try to be there for the little guy because simple things, like opening bottles, are hard. However, you do get pretty creative with just one arm. Try telling him this is a good chance to practice creativity and out of the box thinking.
Long sleeves are a pain. Even though its cold, he'll have to wear short sleeves with a large sweater to fit over the splint.
Buttons are hard to do, so maybe pants with elastic waists? Sweats?
If he can't shower on his own, maybe swimming trunks while you wash his hair first and he can wash the rest. I think sitting in the bathtub is a little more practical. You can also buy bags specially made to cover splints and casts.
Please be patient. He's going to get frustrated with the lack of autonomy, but he'll be fine with a little support.
My guy broke his arm when he was 3. Two weeks before a family camping trip to a very warm area.
Spend extra time with him doing something he likes
Does he like to read? Go to the lib.
Invite a buddy or 2 over and rent DVDs
The first while is the hardest.
Injured arm in sleeve first.
Plastic bag loosely tied over arm for baths
Once he is able to get his cast spend the extra $ and get a fibreglass cast..They are waterproof (my guy swam) very durable, and they come in some very cool colours.
He's probably real sore still so try to be extra patent.
Good luck!
make sure he DOES NOT move that arm for showers I'd say make him take baths put his arm in a paper bag gentaly as for getting dressed make sure he wears shirts that are easy to get into such as button downs and you may want to help him in his pants or have ur husband help if he would feel more confortable with that if he doesn't have a body pellow I would get him one and put it against the wall so he doesn't hurt his arm on that when he is sleeping keep his arm rested and he'll be fine
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