My child doesn’t always want to wear their compression garments — is it okay to have “days off”?
Short answer
For children
It's okay to feel fed up with your compression sometimes! A short break once in a while is usually fine — just talk to your therapist instead of stopping altogether.
For parents & caregivers
Occasional short breaks can be reasonable if your child is struggling. The aim is consistency, not perfection — so talk to your team rather than stopping treatment altogether.
It's okay to feel fed up with your compression sometimes! A short break once in a while is usually fine — just talk to your therapist instead of stopping altogether.
For parents & caregivers
Occasional short breaks can be reasonable if your child is struggling. The aim is consistency, not perfection — so talk to your team rather than stopping treatment altogether.
Learn more ›
Many children find compression garments difficult at times, especially in hot weather, during sport or around friends — this is completely understandable. Occasional short breaks are sometimes reasonable if advised by your lymphoedema team, particularly when swelling is mild and well controlled. Regularly leaving compression off for long periods, however, may let swelling increase and become harder to control over time.
If your child is struggling, speak with your therapist rather than simply stopping treatment — changing the garment style, compression level, fabric or wearing schedule can make a real difference, and involving children in choosing colours or patterns often helps too.
If your child is struggling, speak with your therapist rather than simply stopping treatment — changing the garment style, compression level, fabric or wearing schedule can make a real difference, and involving children in choosing colours or patterns often helps too.