How do I protect my child who is immunocompromised?

If your child has complex medical needs or is immunocompromised, you will need to establish firm boundaries with family members, friends, and other people in your community in order to keep your child safe. For example, you can limit the number of people who come to your home, ask visitors to wash their hands before touching your child, not allow people who are sick to visit, etc. During cold and flu season, you might choose to not attend family functions, or let people know that you may have to cancel plans if your child gets sick or a nurse calls out.

If you have a very social family or circle of friends, doing this may be harder than you think, but it will get easier with time.

Another tip: Some people may not be comfortable with you bringing your child's nurse to family events, but if that is what your child medically needs, it’s important to communicate and set boundaries around it.

For more information, see our full article Tips on Going Home from the Hospital with a New Diagnosis.