Home-Based Care: Supporting Children with Infusion Pumps
The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Bringing an infusion pump into your home isn’t just about managing a treatment—it’s about helping a child feel safe, comfortable, and in control. Parents and caregivers often wonder how to balance medical care with normal childhood experiences. The tubing, alarms, and schedules can feel like constant reminders of something that sets a child apart. But with the right strategies, the infusion pump can become just another part of life—important, but not defining.
Helping a Child Feel Comfortable with an Infusion Pump
When a child first sees an infusion pump, their reaction can range from curiosity to fear. It’s unfamiliar, it has a lot of parts, and it’s connected to them in ways they might not fully understand. The best way to reduce stress is to make the device feel like something they have control over rather than something that happens to them.
Letting a child explore the pump before it’s hooked up can help them feel more comfortable. Showing them the pump, letting them touch the buttons without activating it, and explaining what each part does in simple terms can make it feel less intimidating. Instead of seeing it as a machine that controls them, they begin to understand it as a tool that helps them.
Medical play can also be a powerful way to help children adjust. Research-backed medical toys—like those designed specifically for children—allow kids to interact with an infusion pump in a low-pressure, playful way. A toy infusion pump for a stuffed animal or doll can make the real one seem less intimidating. By acting out the process of setting up an IV or adjusting the pump on a toy, children become more familiar with the experience, making them less likely to feel anxious when they see the real thing.
Some children feel more comfortable if their pump has a name or a personality. Turning it into a “helper” rather than a machine can shift their perspective. Giving them a sense of familiarity and even a little humor around the pump can make it feel like a normal part of their routine instead of something scary.
Practicing routines can also help. If possible, letting them be involved in small ways, like pressing a start button under supervision or helping to clean parts of the pump, can give them a greater sense of control. Small choices like picking the color of their tubing wrap or selecting a specific bag to carry their pump in can make them feel more confident and engaged in their care.
Keeping Movement and Play a Priority
One of the biggest challenges of home infusion therapy is helping a child stay active and engaged in play. Whether a pump is worn all the time or only during certain treatments, it can feel restrictive. But movement is still possible—it just takes some adjustments.
Using a backpack or carrying pouch can make a huge difference in mobility. Many infusion pumps fit into small bags, allowing more freedom of movement. Some children prefer fanny packs, while others like a backpack they can decorate to make it feel more personal.
Adapting playtime is another key strategy. If mobility is limited, tabletop activities like building with blocks, storytelling, or drawing can keep the fun going. For kids who want to be more active, gentle stretching, seated games, or modified obstacle courses can help.
Creating an “infusion fort” can make infusion time feel like a special experience rather than an inconvenience. Setting up a cozy fort with blankets, books, or a tablet can make the time pass more easily and give children a sense of routine and control.
Encouraging small movement breaks, if medically safe, can also help. If they can move around between infusions, simple stretching or a short walk can prevent stiffness and make the transition back to normal activities easier.
Managing Sensory Sensitivities
Some children are more affected by the way an infusion pump looks, feels, or sounds. If a child is sensitive to textures or noises, small modifications can make a big difference.
Minimizing tubing discomfort with soft fabric wraps or medical-grade adhesives can help prevent irritation. Some families find that long-sleeved shirts with thumb holes keep tubing in place without extra tape.
Reducing sound sensitivity can make a pump feel less overwhelming. If the pump’s beeping is upsetting, using noise-canceling headphones or playing background music can help. Some children feel more comfortable if they’re warned before a beep happens, so they aren’t startled.
Providing sensory-friendly fidget tools can give children something else to focus on if they’re distracted or stressed by the pump. Holding a small fidget toy or textured item can help them feel more in control.
Using medical play to practice adjustments can help children feel more at ease. If dressing changes or tubing adjustments are stressful, using a toy medical set to practice the steps ahead of time can make real-life experiences less overwhelming.
Helping a Child Feel More in Control
Children often feel powerless in medical situations, especially when treatments happen at home, where they’re used to having more autonomy. Giving them small choices can make a big difference.
Letting them choose their setup can help them feel more comfortable. If they can pick the spot where infusions happen, choose a specific blanket, stuffed animal, or TV show during the process, they feel like they have more say in their care.
Involving them in routines in age-appropriate ways can also help. If they are old enough, allowing them to help with simple tasks—like holding their tubing while an adjustment is made or pressing a button under supervision—can give them a greater sense of independence.
Using a timer or countdown method can provide predictability. If an infusion takes a set amount of time, letting them track it on a visual timer or setting a fun alarm sound when it’s done can make the process feel more predictable.
Acknowledge frustration but emphasize their strength. It’s okay for a child to feel upset about their treatment. Recognizing their feelings while also reinforcing their resilience helps them process emotions in a healthy way.
Supporting Siblings and Friends in Understanding Infusion Therapy
A child’s medical experience doesn’t happen in isolation—it also affects their siblings and friends. Helping others understand what an infusion pump does can make the child feel more included and supported.
Encouraging siblings to participate in medical play can help them understand the process. If a child with an infusion pump uses a toy version on a stuffed animal, their sibling can also take part, making it a shared experience rather than something that separates them.
Talking openly about the infusion pump in simple terms can also prevent misunderstandings. Letting siblings and friends ask questions helps them learn and normalizes the experience.
Long-Term Adaptation to Infusion Therapy
For some children, infusion therapy is temporary, while for others, it is a long-term part of life. As children grow, their feelings about their pump may change. Some may become more independent in managing their care, while others may go through phases of frustration or resistance.
Helping children adapt over time means adjusting strategies to fit their changing needs. Younger children may need more play-based coping methods, while older kids may appreciate more involvement in their own care decisions.
Encouraging children to take ownership of their infusion routine as they grow, whether that means managing small tasks or making decisions about how they carry their pump, can build confidence and resilience.
Finding Normalcy in Everyday Life
The goal of home-based infusion therapy isn’t just medical stability—it’s helping a child feel like a child. Infusion pumps may be a necessary part of life, but they don’t have to define it.
With the right adjustments, children learn to integrate their pump into daily life—wearing it as naturally as they wear a backpack, adapting play and movement, and finding ways to feel comfortable and in control. They aren’t just managing a treatment; they’re living full, rich lives, filled with creativity, laughter, and possibility.