Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the safest and most powerful diagnostic tools we have, but for children, it can be an intimidating experience. The loud noises, narrow tunnels, and need to stay perfectly still can turn even the bravest kid into a bundle of nerves. Thankfully, pediatric imaging teams around the world are reimagining the MRI experience with creativity, empathy, and technology. From colorful, immersive spaces to interactive training tools, these innovations are transforming MRI from a scary ordeal into an adventure.
Hands-On Practice with MINITOM Kids
One of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety is to give children a hands-on preview of what to expect.
Siemens Healthineers’ MINITOM Kids is a child-sized scanner model that lets kids explore, press buttons, and practice lying still on the table. It even makes the same sounds as a real scanner and uses a friendly giraffe character to guide them through the process via a tablet. By turning preparation into play, MINITOM Kids helps children walk into their real MRI feeling confident and ready.
Transforming MRI Rooms into Playful Worlds
Some hospitals take a visual approach, transforming their MRI suites into whimsical environments.
- Stanford’s Packard Children’s Hospital built a sandcastle-themed scanner room, complete with beach murals.
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics wrapped scanners in camping-themed graphics, which has significantly reduced sedation rates.
These playful designs create a sense of curiosity rather than fear, and that shift can make all the difference.
Immersive Sensory MRI Suites
Other facilities focus on engaging multiple senses. At Memorial Hermann’s Pediatric MRI Suite, kids choose a theme, watch in-bore movies, and are surrounded by calming LED lighting and soundscapes. Yale New Haven Health uses wall-to-wall graphics to transport patients to the beach, creating a distraction so engaging that many forget they’re in a hospital.
VR, Robots, and Interactive Prep Tools
Interactive tools are making a big impact. Virtual reality simulations allow kids to “try out” an MRI in a safe, gamified environment, helping them practice staying still.
Social robots greet patients, explain the procedure, and even keep them company in waiting rooms. These innovations give children a sense of control, which can reduce anxiety and improve cooperation during the scan.
Making Oral Prep Easier to Swallow
For some pediatric MRIs, especially abdominal imaging, kids need to drink a large volume of liquid in order to distend their bowel before the scan. Unfortunately, the drinks may have an unpleasant taste, which can make compliance difficult.
Breeza® Flavored Beverage for Small bowel Distention is a lightly-flavored beverage available in lemon-lime and mixed berry options. Offering patients a choice of drink that's easy to tolerate can mean less resistance to complying with drinking instructions - a calmer and more cooperative patient equals a smoother workflow for technologists.
By removing a sensory barrier, Breeza flavored beverage makes process less stressful for children and their families, especially when the alternative is a struggle over every sip.
Comfort-Focused Technical Innovations
Small adjustments can make a big difference. Pediatric-sized coils and headrests fit smaller bodies better, improving comfort and image quality. Faster imaging sequences shorten scan times, reducing the chance of movement and the need for anesthesia.
Stanford’s Dr. Shreyas Vasanawala has led efforts to design equipment and protocols specifically for pediatric patients, proving that engineering changes can be just as impactful as environmental ones.
Making MRIs Memorable
The future of pediatric MRI is bright and a little playful. With the growing use of VR training, themed imaging suites, advanced comfort-focused technology, and dedicated human support, more children will walk into their scans calm, curious, and ready.
By blending medical excellence with creativity and empathy, we can make MRIs not just tolerable for kids, but empowering experiences they’ll remember for all the right reasons.
If you think your MRI suite would benefit from Breeza flavored beverage for small bowel distention, contact info@beekley.com or request product samples for a trial evaluation and further information.
Megan Sargalski
Marketing Communications Specialist
