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?

Another vote for absolutely tell them. When taking my 3 year old for their pre-school boosters I told him he was going to get injections that would feel like little scratches but we're important to keep him safe. When we arrived the staff told them the injections would give running and jumping superpowers as if trying to sugar-coat it which I found rather frustrating when I'd gone for the honest approach!

I told mine at that age but only an hour before hand ... just enough to explain but not too long to worry! Also let them choose a treat for after .... both choose macdonalds so it was very much talking about what they would be having whilst the jabs were done!

Our nurse used to refused to do children if they hadn't been told before they went into the surgery. She'd seen too many children where that had happened to get distressed just sitting in the waiting room subsequent times when they weren't there for injections.

He’s 5

my 3.5yr olds coped with “ magic medicine by a little injection that stops you getting proper poorly - yes it with sting a but like a pinch or a flick , but less bad than when the bee stung you ….. “

later “ there a jelly baby for each hand hold them tight and eat one after each “ there you go

Don't mention it unless he asks

This. I’ve read studies on this from child psychologists. If there’s something unpleasant happening to them, tell them in the morning. If you do it the night before then they’re going to worry and not sleep. If you only tell them immediately before (or not at all) then you can lose their trust in you wondering why it’s been sprung on them like that, they’ll be worried of it happening again as you didn’t let them know last time.

How on earth is he going to know to ask ‘Am I going to the doctors for vaccinations today’??? 🙄

I have a 5 year old who recently had a couple of vaccines. I told him at a quiet moment the day before. He didn’t mind the injections at all, and didn’t need any treats (he is in hospital often so I can’t set up expectations that there will be a treat for each procedure, and it works fine without). You just need to present it with the right amount of confidence yourself.