4 year old having Vaccination on Thursday, do I tell him before?

[Twiglett]

or just spring it on him?

He never bothered when he was younger (didn't even flinch)

I said something in the car about him having a mumps vaccination to make him stronger (like baby DD had .. he knew about them) .. he got upset and said he didn't want one

any advice on how to handle this in advance (its a 20 min drive BTW)

[lowcalCOD]

no dont till you get there
tell him it may hurt though seconds beofre
take oyur purse to bribe after wards

[dinny]

my dd had mumps jab recently, Twiglett, and was v upset as she said it was stinging a lot (she is 2 and a half).
I wouldn't tell your ds until at the clinic - he'll only worry, won't he?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'd definately tell my DS, but he's generally not one to worry about things.

If you do tell him in advance, maybe promise a treat afterwards if he's good about it?

[KBear]

Ooh, it's a tricky one but either way it's gonna hurt and he's gonna scream. I would tell him when you arrive (get there a few minutes early maybe) and explain that he has to have it done like all the other children and then you get to do something fun (like eat sweets all the way home or go for icecream).

what a horrible part of parenting.

good luck

[janeybops]

I am supposed to be doing this tomorrow. Have told dd we have to go to doctors tomorrow and when she asked why I told her she was having an injection. I also reminded her that if she was a brave girl she could have some sweets after!

She is not quite sure whether to be worried or pleased!
However, she has woken twice already this evening and is looking hot.... I have already had to cancel 4 appointments - all due to temperatures, chicken pox etc, looks like another one is going to pot too!

[Laylasmum]

from a professional point of view please please tell him in advance. i've found the more prepared kids are the less stressful it is for them!!( and you )

[SofiaAmes]

I always tell my ds (4) the morning of a jab. He HATES them (his 2 year old sister is far braver). This gives him a chance to ask lots of questions ("but whyyyy do I need one and why do they hurt and why can't you have it for me?") and it means that he won't think that everytime we go to the gp he might have a jab. I also always give him a lolly as soon as he's had the jab (my kids don't get a lot of sweets, so this is a big treat for him).

[Whizzz]

I told my DS & he was fine about it. I sort of did it in stages & added a bit more info each time.

[Gobbledigook]

I'm with the Codster.

[Gobbledigook]

AND, when ds1 has his pre-school boosters this year, I won't be taking him! That's dh's job!! DS1 is a nightmare for things like that and I can't bear it!

I know, terrible mother

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[tunise]

I always tell them the day before, if you are calm and matter of fact about it your attitude will hopefully rub off on ds.
Promise a treat after for being brave, you might find if he can't see the needle he really won't notice until it's just about finished (hold him on your lap facing away from the nurse.)
Good luck!

[highlander]

my sister deprives the kids of anything remotely sweet for a week beforehand. On the day of the jabs she tells them but promises lots of treats if they don't make too much fuss. Works every time apparently!

[FairyMum]

I read children's books to dd about going to the doctor and having a jab in the week leading up to the vaccination. And we played with her doctor's kit. Not sure if it helped, but she was absolutely fine. Even looked while the needle went in and was really proud of her plaster afterwards
I don't give any sweets or rewards afterwards. Personally I feel that it's better to make a non-issue out of it, but not sure if that works or if I am just really lucky with my children who seems to love needles....

[foxinsocks]

We had ours on Monday (dd - also 4) and I told her as we got there (knowing there would be a bit of a wait).

I told her the jab was to make her body stronger and protected her against some horrible illnesses.

If I was you, I'd be prepared because dd said she'd rather have the diseases (!). When we got in, the nurse could see that she was a bit cross, so she whispered to me to get her sweatshirt off and distract by making her look the other way (that way dd wouldn't freak out when she saw the needle). I held her arm tight and the nurse jabbed her and dd hardly noticed (though I think it does sting a bit, the tetanus, when it goes in!). The nurse had a HUGE jar of sweets on the table and dd got one afterwards and was fine.