In this chapter we review the development of understanding of children’s needs as recipients of healthcare. We begin by describing how basic public health measures implemented during the Victorian era led to improvements in the length and quality of children’s lives. Then we consider children in hospital and the origins of the restricted parental visiting policy introduced by the Victorians to prevent infection. We describe the work of scientists like John Bowlby and reformers like James Robertson who sought to persuade hospitals to take account of the emotional, as well as the physical, needs of sick children. Our chapter also looks at different approaches to the care of children in hospital and explores policy changes that have allowed for greater involvement of children in healthcare.