Do I tell DS he's having injections?

[lojan]

DS is 5, and very switched on/mature for his age. Not sure if that's at all relevant.

Tomorrow afternoon he's having his 4-in-1 booster and MMR booster.

Do I tell him that he's going to have them done? I know he will be upset and scared by this.

Or do I just turn up with him and leave it to the last second? I don't want him to feel betrayed by me.

What would you do?

Definitely tell him.

And be honest that it will hurt, but only a little bit and only for a few seconds.

Explain why he needs to have them (to keep him healthy).

I'd probably tell him before you go. Just in a gentle way so that he can ask any questions and you can let him know what will happen and why he's having them.

That way, next time you need to go to the doctor he'll believe you if you say it isn't for jabs and he'll trust it.

I wouldn't tell him long before though, he doesn't need to fret about it bless him. Hope it goes well!

Yes I would pre warn him, just tell him they will give him a special medicine in his arm and that it may sting a little but will be fine. I am sure CBeebies have some episodes of things like bing where they get vaccines.

This.

And plan some sort of treat for afterwards so he’s got something to focus on.

Tell him in age appropriate language.
something like ‘we need to get this done to keep your health safe, it will be over very quickly then we can go chose a treat’
Please don’t not tell him. My son shared a hospital room once with a young boy who was told ‘you are going on holiday’ by his parents. If was horrendous as he was actually getting surgery and was so upset as he wasnt prepared.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000bb2g/bing-series-2-4-vaccination

Wow that’s awful 😱

Yes definately tell him

It depends on your child. Both of mine always needed time to process stuff like that. In fact my 11yo has to have a blood test every eight weeks for Crohn's Disease. This has been the case for almost a year and he still likes a day's warning to prepare himself. He goes through the various stages of 'OH NO!', then later on 'I wish I didn't have to have an injection', and finally 'Can I have a treat after my injection?'😆

You can prepare him just before you go in, but I wouldn’t tell him until then so he doesn’t build it in a whole big deal, which it really isn’t. Why is he having them so late though?

Yes it was grim. The little boy screamed and screamed and screamed…broke my heart to hear him

There is a bing episode about it that is quite good

Let him know in a breezy way - ‘Hey DS, we’re popping to the nurse tomorrow for your boosters then we’ll go out for a bit of lunch - where do you fancy?’

Completely agree with this. Honesty and trust.

I’d tell him beforehand, not on the way. I felt utterly betrayed when my DM collected me from schools as usual but we started walking the wrong way. Turned out we were going to the dentist and I was having 4 teeth out . I’d have been worried if I’d known before, but not shocked and left feeling something I needed to know had been kept from me till the last moment. There’s so many good books and tv progs like the ones linked.

I'd tell him on the morning so he doesn't worry about it all night. I'd also tell him he'll get a treat afterwards. I adopted my (very headstrong) ds just before he had to have these shots, he was terrified of needles and would have refused to go if he'd known about it the night before, funnily enough the promise of a treat afterwards got him in the room without too much fuss.

Tell him, but not until it's time to go, because you don't want to give him time to get worked up about it.

And I think you have to say it might hurt, but only for a second or two. And YY to a good treat afterwards (I used to take mine to the newsagents opposite and give them pretty free choice from the sweeties)

Yes tell him the morning of the appointment and let him know there will treat afterwards. I agree the bing episode is helpful, I used it for my youngest.

I told mine a few days before. Explained it meant his body would be able to fight different diseases better. He asked if that meant like a ninja. I said yes and he practically skipped into the surgery telling the nurse he would be a ninja after his jabs.

Be honest. Tell him it's ok to cry (my in-laws insisted on telling my DC they had to be brave and not cry) but it'll be quick and it's very important.

Talk to him confidently during it about a particular interest e.g. Lego models, TV shows etc. Ask him some questions "so I can't remember, which number block is the one who is a wolf?" And it'll be over by the time he answers.

The more laid back you are about it the better. He will pick up on your anxiety.

I told my dc and said it would hurt a bit but be very quick and that it was important to stop them getting sick.

@Potentialmadcatlady that's absolutely horrendous, that poor little boy, I bet it was upsetting for your dc and others on the ward too. When I was 5 I had to have surgery. My parents explained it to me weeks beforehand and even took me to the outside of the children's ward (in the hospital grounds) and pointed at the windows and explained that that's where I'd be staying (it was near where we lived). They also told me that afterwards I'd get ice cream and lots of visitors would come with presents. It was enough for my 5 year old brain and definitely made the whole process easier, as I just focused on the afterwards bit.

I wouldn’t tell him he has to be brave. I’d just say it’s really quick and it will felt like a sharp prick but it will be very very quick. If he does cry tell him then it’s ok to cry, give him a cuddle and focus on whatever you’re going to do next.

Tell him. I had a needle phobia for 20 years as a direct result of a "surprise" injection. As others have said, don't dwell on it. If you make it just another thing he's doing in his day then he'll learn that it's no big deal, even if it does sting a little bit.

Please tell him.