Teddy bears with medical devices help normalize them for children
The bears are fitted with various wearable medical devices such as pacemakers
American Academy of Pediatrics
SAN DIEGO — Teddy bears fitted with medical devices such as gastronomy (feeding) tubes may help normalize and lessen medical anxiety in children who need the same devices, according to a project presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition Oct. 2-6, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center.
Children who live with medical devices often feel anxious or self-conscious about them, especially around other kids at school. Pediatric residents at the Mayo Clinic hoped to find a way to make their patients a bit more comfortable. Their solution: teddy bears fitted with the same medical devices such as gastronomy tubes, tracheostomy tubes, and pacemaker devices their young patients have.
The program, outlined in an abstract titled, “The Teddy Bear Clinic: A Therapeutic Play Intervention to Normalize Pediatric Medical Devices,” offers benefits to medical students, pediatric residents, and their patients. Medical students and residents are able to practice their suturing techniques while preparing the bears with each device and patients see a real-life representation of their own care. The additional suture practice also helps medical students and residents become more confidant in their abilities and can double as a peer-education tool.
"Therapeutic play has long been used to ease children's medical fears, but this advocacy project specifically targets the body-image and self-consciousness piece, the part of a child's experience tied to feeling ‘different’ because of a medical device,” explained Anders Jenson, M.D., PGY-2 Pediatric Resident at Mayo Clinic. “It's a small, easily replicated idea with a real emotional payoff for kids with medical devices.”
Additionally, the program is fairly low cost, with the authors receiving a grant for just $2,200 that was used to purchase about 200 bears. Medical equipment also came at little cost as manufacturers donated many of the supplies while others were made from everyday materials like inflation valves.
The bears can become a hands-on recruitment tool that introduces medical students to pediatrics through a low-pressure, high-impact, meaningful project, authors state. Families can also use the bears as a tool to practice care steps the child needs on their devices and can be a way to help other children understand and accept others who use medical devices.
"As someone with a medical device myself, I remember how isolating it could feel growing up surrounded by those without one,” Dr. Jenson said. “I hope these teddy bears help children to feel more comfortable and confident with their medical devices, knowing that they are not alone in their journey."
This research received external funding from Kid’s Cup Rochester.
Contact: Dr. Jenson at andersjenson@gmail.com
Study author Anders Jenson is scheduled to present the research, which is below, from 10 to 10:30 am PDT on Saturday, Oct. 3 in the poster hall at the conference. T
In addition, Dr. Jenson will be among highlighted abstract authors who will give brief presentations and be available for interviews during a “Soundbite Session” from noon- 1 pm PDT Sunday, Oct. 4, in the conference center Press Room, 14A.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
Program Name: Call for Abstracts
Submission Type: Council on Children with Disabilities
Abstract Title: The Teddy Bear Clinic: A Therapeutic Play Intervention to Normalize Pediatric Medical Devices
Anders Jenson
United States
10/03/2026 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Children with implanted medical devices often experience anxiety, stigma, and social isolation, particularly in school and community settings. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes child-centered, trauma-informed approaches that promote resilience and normalize chronic illness experiences. Therapeutic play has long been recognized as a developmentally appropriate strategy to reduce fear and improve coping among children with complex medical need. However, few interventions specifically address body image and device-related self-consciousness.
To promote normalization of medical devices in our pediatric patients, we developed a program providing stuffed animals outfitted with the same medical devices (e.g., gastrostomy tubes, tracheostomies, pacemakers) as the patient. This program was resident initiated and run. Funding was secured through an internal Mayo Clinic grant for $2,200 and used to procure approximately 200 teddy bears. Pacemaker and tracheostomy models were provided generously by medical device manufacturers. Gastrostomy tubes were simulated with inflation valves of beach balls. These devices were then sutured into the stuffed animals using suture materials donated by the Mayo Clinic Emergency Department. Medical students were recruited to assist with the implanting of the medical devices, while also gaining exposure to the field of Pediatrics. Stuffed animals with implants were then distributed to patients with the corresponding medical device on the pediatric hospital service.
Providing a stuffed animal with a matching medical device fosters normalization and may reduce device-related anxiety. Additionally, the stuffed animals can be used during teaching sessions, facilitating improved understanding of their own devices and increased willingness to engage in care (e.g., tracheostomy suctioning or gastrostomy tube feeds). Stuffed animals can even be used to increase awareness of medical devices in peers, supporting peer education and reducing stigma by introducing the device through toys and play. The project also serves as a recruitment opportunity to engage medical students in the field of Pediatrics, who are given a unique experience to practice their suturing technique while also benefiting patients without the pressures of a clinical environment. These students are also exposed to a special component of the field of Pediatrics in the utilization of developmentally appropriate care and education for our patient population.
The Teddy Bear Clinic Advocacy Project demonstrates a low-cost, scalable intervention that leverages therapeutic play to promote resilience, normalize implanted medical devices, and reduce stigma among children with complex medical needs. By combining advocacy, education, and creative partnership, this initiative offers a replicable model for pediatric institutions seeking to advance child-centered, trauma-informed care.
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
The Teddy Bear Clinic: A Therapeutic Play Intervention to Normalize Pediatric Medical Devices
Article Publication Date
2-Oct-2026
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