how do you prepare a 3yo for injections?

[happygelfling]

My 3yo DD will be called in for immunisations soon. A close friend with a slightly older DD told me that she was thoroughly told off by the nurse giving her daughter's injections because she "had not adequately prepared the child for what was going to happen"... My friend's responses were firstly, if I'd told my child what was going to happen she would have refused to go, and secondly, how can you prepare a child for this?
I know that my DD is usually better behaved when she knows what will happen and what is expected of her, but how can I prepare her without putting her off completely? What approaches have you all taken and what was the result?
Thanks for your help!

[JimmyCorkhill]

I told DD a day before that she would be having hers. I said it would hurt but only for a little while and that it would stop her from getting really ill in the future. I promised her a lolly from the pharmacy afterwards. I also said it was okay to cry.

The nurse called it 'stingy medicine' which seemed apt.

DD was fine.

[YvesJutteau]

Tell them that morning that they will be having an injection to stop them getting really ill, that it will hurt a little bit but only for a moment and that they will get a bag of chocolate buttons immediately afterwards (and make sure you follow through on the chocolate buttons).

[TortoiseInAShell]

I warned my DS that the injection was needed to stop him getting very sick, but waited until the actual day to say that it will be like a pinchy feeling for a short while.

When we got in the room the nurse asked if I had warned him it will hurt, and didn't seem impressed with my wording so I reworded it again just before he got jabbed. I still think it was better to warn him in stages or he'd have worried a lot.

I also took some chocolate buttons and gave them immediately after as a consolation prize.

[siblingrevelryagain]

I told mine minutes before-I'd told them over previous day that we were going to see the nurse who would give him some medicine to stop them getting poorly, but didn't elaborate.

It's not pleasant however you look at it, but in my experience it's better that they're not stressed or anxious unnecessarily beforehand. Have a lolly or something tasty to distract immediately afterwards (have it with you or let them hold it in waiting area)

[happygelfling]

Thanks for all the ideas!
Chocolate is definitely a common theme! Stickers also sound good. Explaining why it's happening will hopefully help too, but I think the chocolate will definitely take her mind off it.
I've managed to accidentally all this question twice (bloody smart phone) so there are some more answers on the other thread too.

[Decanter]

There is an episode of Get Well Soon (CBeebies) that deals with injections - it was of great benefit to my DD.

[Cafeconleche]

I gave my DS a sherbet lolly to suck on the minute the nurse got out the needle (on the nurse's advice) and he hardly felt anything ??

[fukkigucci]

I told dd she was getting them the day before. I told her it would be a pinch, and I pinched her where it would be. Not hard enough to hurt of course. And then I asked her if it hurt, and when she said no I lavished praise on her about how brave she is. I told her that she is so lucky to be getting them, and how much I wished I could have one too.
She hardly blinked when she had them.

[Cherrychocolate]

I found this easier when my boys were little, and it was only one injection. Now they have to have one in each arm, which is a little harder. I told my DD that she needed some medicine in her arms so that she didn't get poorly. I told her a few days before, then didn't mention it until the actual day. I was really worried, but she was fine. A trip to the sweetie shop afterwards made sure all was right with the world again!