Pediatric Orthopedics

Helping your child understand an MRI

An MRI is a safe, painless scan that takes detailed pictures of your child’s body. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which means taking pictures of the inside of the body.

An MRI scanner is a large camera shaped like a donut. When the scanner takes pictures, you may hear loud spinning noises, but the camera does not touch your child.

This guide explains what to expect and how to help your child feel comfortable and supported.

Talking to your child about the scan

2 to 3 years old

Due to your child’s age, they are likely to be sedated during the scan. Tell your child immediately before the visit.

“Today the doctor is going to take pictures of your body. The doctor will give you medicine through a mask to help you fall asleep.”

4 to 9 years old

Start the conversation a day or two before the visit.

“The doctor is going to take pictures of the inside of your body using an MRI scanner. The scanner won’t touch you, but it will make loud spinning noises. During your MRI, do you want to take deep breaths or listen to music?”

10+ years old

Talk to your child days before their MRI.

“The doctor is going to take pictures of the inside of your body using an MRI scanner. The scanner won’t touch you, but it will make loud spinning noises. What do you want to bring to the appointment? Do you have any questions?”

Explain a MRI in three easy steps

1. Lie on your back and fasten your seatbelt. The table moves into the scanner that is shaped like a donut.
2. The MRI scanner makes a loud spinning noise. Hold still while your picture is taken.
3. The table moves out of the scanner. Take off your seat belt and sit up.

Bring the essentials

• Offer activities to distract your child while you wait for the scan (e.g., books or puzzles).
• Bring a comfort item (e.g., stuffed animal or blanket).
• Pack items to provide distractions during the scan, if allowed (e.g., earplugs or headphones).

Set your child up for success

Kids benefit from having choices. Here are some of our favorite ways to help kids during their MRI:

• Squeeze a stress ball
• Listen to music
• Take deep breaths
• Squeeze a stuffed animal
• Hum a song
• Imagine your favorite place

Additional things your child may experience

Talk to the medical team about what else your child may experience during their MRI.

IV placement & contrast

Prior to your child’s MRI, they may receive an IV or contrast. An IV is a small, soft tube placed inside a vein in your child’s hand or arm. If your child needs contrast, they will either receive it through their IV or be asked to drink from a cup.

Sedation

Your child may receive sedation to help them relax and remain still. It’s safe and allows the necessary procedure to be done comfortably. It is important to discuss with your provider what type of sedation and what to expect.

Positioning devices

Your child’s medical team may place an MRI helmet or coil on your child to help the MRI scanner take clear pictures of your child’s body.

Supportive language

It may be helpful to tell your child that the MRI scanner will make loud spinning noises, but nothing will touch them. Remind your child that their most important job is to stay still.

Be calm and supportive

Children often look to their caregivers during times of stress.

Be truthful about the sensations:

“You will hear a loud noise.”

Remind your child to remain still while in the scanner. This will allow the doctors to get better pictures and for the scan to be over sooner.

Crying is a normal reaction. Try redirecting your child’s attention:

“It’s ok to cry. Let’s take a deep breath together.”

Acknowledge your child’s accomplishment

Celebrate your child’s effort with a kind word or small treat after the scan. Point out something they did well and ask them how they think it went.

Helping your child understand a CT scan

A CT scan uses X-rays to take detailed pictures of the inside of the body, helping doctors diagnose injuries, infections, or illnesses. CT stands for computed axial tomography, which means taking pictures of the inside of the body.

A CT scanner is a large camera shaped like a donut. When the scanner takes pictures, you may hear spinning noises, but the camera does not touch your child.

This guide explains what to expect, how to prepare, and how to support your child during the scan.

Talking to your child about the scan

You know better than anyone how and when to set your child up for success! We’ve provided some guidance around when it is best to discuss your upcoming appointment along with age-appropriate language.

2 to 3 years old

Consider telling your child immediately before the visit.

“Today the doctor is going to take pictures of your body with a camera that is shaped like a big donut.”

4 to 9 years old

Start the conversation a day or two before the visit.

“The doctor is going to take pictures of the inside of your body using a CT scanner. The scanner won’t touch you. During the scan, do you want to take deep breaths, or listen to music?”

10+ years old

Days before, talk to your child about their CT scan.

“The doctor is going to take pictures of the inside of your body using a CT scanner. The scanner won’t touch you. What do you want to bring to the appointment? Do you have any questions?”

Explain the CT scan in three easy steps

1. Lie on your back and fasten your seatbelt. The table moves into the scanner that is shaped like a donut.
2. The CT scanner makes a spinning noise. Hold still while your picture is taken.
3. The table moves out of the scanner. Take off your seat belt and sit up.

Bring the essentials

• Offer activities to distract your child while you wait for the scan (e.g., games or puzzles).
• Bring a comfort item (e.g., stuffed animal or blanket).
• Pack items to provide distraction during the scan, if allowed (e.g., earplugs or headphones).

Set your child up for success

Kids benefit from having choices. Here are some of our favorite ways to help kids during their CT scan:

• Squeeze a stress ball
• Listen to music
• Take deep breaths
• Squeeze a stuffed animal
• Hum a song
• Count down from 100

Be calm and supportive

Children often look to their caregivers during times of stress.

Be truthful about the sensations they may experience:

“You will hear a noise as the camera spins around you.”

Remind your child that the camera won’t touch their body.

Your presence can be comforting. Ask the team if you can accompany your child to the procedure room.

Acknowledge your child’s accomplishment

Be sure to celebrate your child’s bravery and talk about one specific thing they did well. Ask your child how they think it went

Bring an electronic device, toys, or favorite items like a blanket or stuffed animal to comfort and distract your child during casting.

Calmly explain the process in simple terms:

“The cast helps protect your bone(s) until you’re better. First, a soft layer goes on, then a hard layer. It stays on until your bone(s) have healed.”

Remind your child to stay still, reassure them it won’t hurt, and encourage questions.

Ask the doctor if your child can choose a color for their cast and decorate it once dry.

Help your child care for their cast by keeping the limb elevated, using pain medication as directed, and giving sponge baths.

To ensure that water does not get on the cast, consider using plastic grocery bags or press-and-seal plastic wrap.

Remember to bring something to distract your child, like an electronic device with movies or music, so they have something to focus on while the cast is being removed.

A cast saw safely removes the cast without touching the skin. Though its sight and sound may seem scary, reassure your child that it is safe and doesn’t hurt.

Ask your child if they want to watch or look away. For those who don’t want to watch, bring headphones and position the electronic device so it blocks their view of the cast and saw.

Again, remind yourself and your child that the cast saw is designed to only remove the cast and won’t touch your child’s skin.

Afterward, the doctor will cut the soft wrap with scissors, also without touching the skin.

Your child’s skin may feel itchy, and their muscle may be sore, but these feelings should improve over time. Talk with your doctor for suggestions about how to treat any discomfort.