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Original poster

Pre school jabs

34 replies

maisiethemumma · 02/06/2023 16:24

Hello all - DD has her pre school jabs soon. She nearly had to have a blood test the other week and was absolutely petrified at the thought - so I’m pretty sure she’s scared of needles.

Should I tell her a few days before, on the day, just before, or not at all? I don’t want to wind her up needlessly, but I’m also not sure how keen I am in the idea of Surprising her.

Any tips around this for her?

Also how many jabs is it/how big is the needle and where will she be jabbed please and what kind of clothes should I dress her in. Thanks xx

OP posts:
Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 16:29

What are the pre school jabs? I don’t remember them.

No do NOT tell before. She has very very little concept of time.

so an hour before talk about going to the doc to do what big kids have to do before pre school. And afterwards you’re going to go straight to the toy shop / park / ice cream / whatever… as a treat.

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 16:30

Arm.

loose clothing

DustyLee123 · 02/06/2023 16:32

I didn’t tell mine until we got there.
T-shirt or vest top.

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FlounderingFruitcake · 02/06/2023 16:33

It’s the arm so wear something short sleeved, in our area it’s just 1 injection I think (the 4 in 1) but it could be 2 if she hasn’t had her 2nd MMR yet. I’d say nothing until it’s time to go to the doctors and then promise ice cream or another treat afterwards.

RunningFromInsanity · 02/06/2023 16:33

I was the same so I use to have my jabs at the doctors instead of school.
My mum use to pick me up from school, then tell me I was having the jab and then we were going for a meal/icecream etc afterward.
I would always lay down on the doctors couch, cover my face with my jumper, never look at the needle, and my mum held my hand.
(I would also usually faint after but that couldn’t be helped!)

Yes I was scared and I made a fuss but as long as you are firm- no one likes injections but they are non-negotiable.

Wear a short sleeve loose top.

Original poster
maisiethemumma · 02/06/2023 17:34

Ok. Assuming it’ll be in her shoulder, rather than the back of her arm? Will it be one jab in each arm or both jabs in a single arm? Xx

Are they painful for her or not too bad and more of a scratch?

Has anyone got any distraction techniques and what’s the best way for her to sit x

OP posts:
ghostbusters · 02/06/2023 17:43

I can't 100% remember, I'm sure they got 1 jag in each arm in quick succession, like calmed down a bit from crying then straight in with the next. Some my friends with a different GP had 2 nurses, one did a jag each at the same time. The nurse was great at distracting my kids. She had one of those dancing sunflower toys so something they can look at a little distance away/behind you would be good. They sat on my lap facing me and cuddled in, their arm was accessible under my arm when they were hugging me. They cried with each jag but calmed down quickly and were back to normal when we left the room (they're both primary age and 3 years apart).

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 02/06/2023 18:17

I let my dd eat a packet of choc buttons while they were doing it. It worked a treat.

mynameiscalypso · 02/06/2023 18:20

We watched the episode of Bing about vaccinations and DS really grasped the concept of a doctor putting medicine in his arm (and then getting a sticker). He cried when the needle went in but recovered almost immediately. It was way less stressful than some of his baby jabs.

7Worfs · 02/06/2023 18:25

We told ours when we picked him up and headed to the GP.
I gave him a treat I rarely allow, I told him he can hold it the whole time and open it as soon as the shots were done.

The MMR hurts a lot more than the 4-in-1, I think they always do it second for that reason.

SeeingSpots · 02/06/2023 18:28

We had them a few weeks ago. It's one jab in each arm at the top, they do the MMR second as that one stings more. Definitely don't tell her beforehand if shes already showing signs of being afraid of needles.

DS said it was sore but he didn't cry, although it's worth noting he got a rash on the arm where he had the MMR the next day which is totally normal.

pookiedoodlepuppy · 02/06/2023 18:36

Just don't treat it like it's a big deal .I never told them before , just opened my hand to reveal a little pkt of sweets when the needle went in .

SBAM · 02/06/2023 18:39

We watched the Bing episode about vaccinations the day before. Both my kids were quite excited about it - the nurse was baffled that they understood what they were coming for and weren’t scared.

It was one in each arm for my son (who had his two weeks ago). We took stickers with us in case the doctors didn’t have one, and a lollipop though the lollipop wasn’t needed as it turned out.

Original poster
maisiethemumma · 02/06/2023 19:37

Ok. Is it worth telling her just as we’re going into the GP then to avoid her getting all in a tizzy about it? I’ll pick up a packet of sweets from her from the shop before we go in as a reward for afterwards. Thanks for telling me that the MMR hurts more for them, I’ll double check with the nurse that she’s doing that one last.

Please tell me these are the last lot of jabs for a while (bar flu jab, which is nasal for her anyway I think)?? 🙈

OP posts:
Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 19:41

to avoid her getting all in a tizzy about it?

op are you sure you’re not the one in the tizzy and she’s feeding off that?

SBAM · 02/06/2023 19:43

@maisiethemumma this is the last set until they’re over 12 except the yearly nasal flu spray, unless you choose to get the chicken pox one or any travel ones.

Mummaluma · 02/06/2023 19:44

We watched the Bing episode too, and then talked about it, along with reading books. Preschool did doctors and nurses week around the same time, so she was excited(!)

It helped that we had a wonderful nurse who talked her though it and let her help. She didn't even realise that the jabs had happened!

ReeseWitherfork · 02/06/2023 19:45

Another vote for the Bing episode, it’s very well done. I told my son before we went. But I am not overly bothered by such things so I effortlessly nail the blasé thing. I appreciate lots of adults don’t like jabs though so not the same for everyone. Only you can know whether you can confidentially deliver the calm talk beforehand and whether your daughter is the sort of kid who would prefer to know. Some wouldn’t like to be blind sighted.

cptartapp · 02/06/2023 19:53

Two jabs, one in each upper arm into the muscle.
Tell her as late as you can get away with and don't make a big deal about it. Avoid the word brave. Wear short loose sleeves.Hold her very firmly, distract with sweets or whatever. Keep talking during the procedure in a calm voice about anything really - she's less likely to scream if she wants to listen to what you're saying.
Treat afterwards. Be very matter of fact about what happened. No big oohs and aaahs.
Next ones will be as school leavers around year ten.
Practice nurse.

Original poster
maisiethemumma · 02/06/2023 21:21

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 19:41

to avoid her getting all in a tizzy about it?

op are you sure you’re not the one in the tizzy and she’s feeding off that?

Maybe I am a little, yes. However I had a very traumatic experience getting a flu jab when I was young, basically being held down whilst it was jabbed in my arm, and it hurt. That’s stuck with me - and I want to make sure DDs jabs go as smoothly as they can, esp now she’s at the age that she’s going to remember them.

OP posts:
Original poster
maisiethemumma · 02/06/2023 21:23

SBAM · 02/06/2023 19:43

@maisiethemumma this is the last set until they’re over 12 except the yearly nasal flu spray, unless you choose to get the chicken pox one or any travel ones.

Is the chicken pox one worth getting?? She hasn’t had it so far so now might be a good time - don’t you have to get it privately - if so where do people recommend please? Xx

OP posts:
WafflesAndChocolate · 02/06/2023 21:25

I didn't tell mine and just had a packet of sweets ready for afterwards. I think they knew they were having their vaccinations, but didn't know it was a needle. The nurses told them when we went in. I did have calpol handy for sore arms afterwards and we would usually have their favourite dinner that night and a tasty dessert. I also picked my battles afterwards, knowing they might not be feeling their best and also wanting the day to end positively. Lots of positive praise given too.

SeeingSpots · 02/06/2023 21:26

maisiethemumma · 02/06/2023 21:23

Is the chicken pox one worth getting?? She hasn’t had it so far so now might be a good time - don’t you have to get it privately - if so where do people recommend please? Xx

Show quote history

Points to user name... Yes get the vaccine if possible. I didn't as DS had them mildly and now the poor nugget has them again.

Also she's very unlikely to remember the jabs unless you make it a huge event, so don't let that worry you. Just take her get them done and give her some sweets as a treat for being sensible at the doctor's.

DelurkingAJ · 02/06/2023 21:29

Neither of my DSs (7 and 10) have any memory at all of their preschool jabs. I found this out when we went for the COVID ones (I had assumed they would but no…DS2 remembers DS1 going for them but he would have been 7ish at the time).

WafflesAndChocolate · 02/06/2023 21:31

Mine both had the chicken pox vaccine at Boots as I also collected the points! Plus we could book it after school/work so was very convenient.

It was pricey but we both work and don't have local family support. It would have been really difficult to be off work for possibly 2 weeks if both children got it one after the other. Our eldest was finishing primary school and still hadn't caught it so we thought it was also best to vaccinate her as (I believe) you can be more ill with it the older you are.