Teddy Bear Clinic at St. Barnabas Helps Children

More than 200 children attended Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!, a free Teddy Bear Clinic sponsored by Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston on Wednesday, July 21. Children between the ages of 4 and 8 brought their teddy bears or favorite stuffed animals to the clinic to learn about medical equipment and procedures to become comfortable with visiting a  hospital.

"The Teddy Bear Clinic is designed to be similar to the experiences that children and their family members might have when they go for an annual checkup or are admitted into the hospital," said Laura Cunius, a Child Life Therapist at Saint Barnabas. "Participation in the clinic helps kids become more familiar with a hospital setting and allow them to dispel fears that they might have about going to the doctor."

Upon arrival, each teddy bear was registered, received an identification band and visited a series of medical play stations including weight, height, immunization, blood pressure and others. All the displays are interactive, so the children will have a good time learning so that they don't have to fear a trip to the hospital.

The event is sponsored by Johnson and Johnson Health Care System, Inc., Toys R Us and supported by The John La Conti, M.D. Child Life Fund, which is administered by the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation.