Pre-School vaccinations

[laughingeyes2013]

Ours is due and I'm dreading it!

How did everyone deal with a trusting 3.5 year old getting stabbed with a needle?

I'm thinking I will tell him last minute to prevent his worrying and will have some chocolate buttons ready afterwards for being a brave boy.

But I wondered how everyone else dealt with theirs?

[Millipedewithherfeetup]

I did not tell my dd that she was going to get an injection. Try ( and I know it's hard) not to let your fears show, if you don't make a big deal about it then they will not be too bothered either, it's over and done with in a flash, try and put him in something loose around the arms, nothing worse than trying to put a tight fitting jumper back on after, suggest a t-shirt with a shirt on top/gillet.
Good luck op It will be fine x

[BlackMogul]

OP... Why are you dreading it? It is not you having the injection? You are supposed to be the adult here remember. Stop being over dramatic - stabbing - really?!! It is a routine injection. Give him a treat, stay calm, say he is a very good boy - even if he wails the place down - and stop worrying.

[laughingeyes2013]

feetup thanks for the loose sleeve tip, I had assumed it was in the leg like all his previous ones. You mention you didn't say your child was having an injection - did you just sit them on your knee and distract instead?

black of course I know I'm the adult here - the use of the word 'stabbed' is probably best served as 'jabbed' but it is late at night and the words rhyme! besides, I bet they feels like that !!!

Regarding "dreading it" - dictionary definition of "dread" is: to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience. That's an accurate, non-dramatic way of saying I'm not looking forward to it because no one likes an injection. But of course I will treat it like its perfectly fine as he yells. You perhaps missed my original post where I said I intended to give him a treat and praise him already so your post wasn't all that helpful.

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

My ds loves jabs as he thinks they give him super powers and make him strong! Not sure where it came from but he asks for a batman or Spider-Man etc jab if he has to have them.

But it was fine and over in seconds, can't remember him having a sore arm after.

[laughingeyes2013]

Thanks twinkle, how funny!

[CreatureRetorts]

My ds didn't bat an eyelid.

On the way, we went to the shop and got a magazine for him to look at. So he was more interested in that. I told him he nurse would give him medicine and it would be a scratch in his arm.

He sat on my lap, looked at the magazine, nurse did it. He flinched briefly, got his chocolate button and that was it!

I was more nervous than he was. But I hid it well so he was fine.

[CreatureRetorts]

Oh but he did have a pretty swollen arm afterwards (at bedtime) so had to give him calpol.

[laughingeyes2013]

creature that's inspirational! I am off to buy an octonauts mag! It's nice to hear you were more nervous than he was because I'm just the same (although determined to play it cool)!

[CreatureRetorts]

it was an octonauts magazine!

Good luck with it!

[brettgirl2]

dd cried when the needle went in but some smarties soon cheered her up. In fact she said she'd have some more if she gets smarties after

OP if it really worries you that much can you get dad to take him?