Shot idea

[Princessperky]

I read the other discussion about shots and I thought I would post what we do with my son (3yo) so that he doesn't mind them.

We first are honest with him, we tell him he will be getting a shot, if we are not sure we tell him maybe, but we NEVER blame it on the doc, she wouldn't give him a shot if I refused it, she doesn't need any more reason for a kid to fear her! (we are honest with our 1.5yoDD too, but she doesn't know what I mean really)

We are also honest about why he has to get a shot, it is better to be in pain for a moment with a dull ache for a day, than have any of the diseases he will be protected from. I know some people with after effects of the diseases (and with siblings or friends who died due to them) so It is easy for me to allow the momentary pain.

Then we practice, it IS going to hurt and he needs to be able to express that, without screaming, in our house when you bonk your head or something we say 'doink' which is just a mothers way of wincing without encouraging them to make a big deal out of it or anything. So that is the word he picked. 'Sides it makes us all smile .

When he is getting the shot I keep in mind a picture of someone who had polio, or something, DH has a relative who cannot use his right side at all, his leg is literally about as useful as a peg leg, this momentary pain is well worth keeping DS (or DD) from that sort of thing.

Then when he is done we practice saying "thank you" to the Doc.

Last time he said a tearful 'doink' when the jab went in and remembered the thankyou .

DD asks to get one, but she is done till she is 4 or 5 I think. Though we will follow the same method for her iron test comming up in November.

DS has another one to take today, I'll let you know how this one goes. (oh shots for a 3yo arn't normal, he is catching up cause of the shortage when he was little)

 

[selune]

What a great idea. Our 5 year old recently had his kindergarten shots, and cried a bit but said, "Well, it stopped hurting pretty fast, and the shots are better than the diseases." We've told him about various family members who had some of the diseases he gets shots for. Sounds like things went well for you!

 

[HeatherJay]

My 5 year old was terrified of getting her kindergarten shots despite all the preparation we did with her before hand. She had to get 3 shots that day. The first two, she was screaming UNTIL the first needle went in...then she realized that it didn't really hurt that much. That 3rd one, though, oh boy...that one did hurt and the screaming started again.

Later she asked us why were the first two okay, but the last one hurt so much. We explained that it's not the actual shot, it's just that some medicine stings more than others. So, now if she or her sister need to get any shots she'll ask, "Is it a good shot or a bad shot?"

I hate going with my kids when they have to get shots...it's horrible and I cry, too. I wish that "doink" thing would work on my kids, but I have my doubts, lol.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

My son's had his share of jabs between vaccinations, blood work and the like. We're just always up front with him before we even go in. The last time he went in, he clenched his jaw and held onto my hand. Afterwards, he told me he must really be big now (he was six) because he didn't even cry but that it hurt alot. He just melts my heart.

I really believe parents need to tell their children ahead of time to prepare them (for the older kids). I had a mom who never prepared me ahead of time for those things and I grew up with a lot of resentment and distrust.

 

[Andry]

It should be noted that there's a huge difference in who gives the shots. Our GP and our son's pediatrician do the shots personally and not their assistants, interns, or nurses etc. They are so good at it, my 5 yo son says he hardly felt anything.

Emergency ward nurses or interns on the other hand......

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

It should be noted that there's a huge difference in who gives the shots. Our GP and our son's pediatrician do the shots personally and not their assistants, interns, or nurses etc. They are so good at it, my 5 yo son says he hardly felt anything.

Emergency ward nurses or interns on the other hand......

That is very true. We also ask to have two give shots at once that way the shots are done twice as quickly. It's better to have only two jabs rather than four.

 

[Princessperky]

Well DS got yesterdays int he arm, no tears, and nothing more than a flinch while saying 'doink' . He did say it hurt last night, which I barely remmeber my last arm shot, but I think it was sort of a general soreness all day?

Anyway, I totally know what you mean about experience, his Ped is wonderful, but when I was pregnant with DD, the nurse was out (having her own baby) so I had to have blood drawn by the midwife, the older lady who never draws blood or does any of that, she catches babys not lab work! It was bad, very bad!