To be dreading DD's preschool booster?

[dreamer24]

I have huge anxiety around parenting and particularly the idea of my child coming to any harm that I can't prevent (I'm working on it, it's a continuation of severe postnatal anxiety). DD is 3 and is booked in for her preschool vaccinations today. I'm planning on giving her calpol beforehand but are there any other side effects I need to be aware of so I can preempt them? Thank you

please don't medicate your child unnecessarily

I agree with you that it should be mentioned. I know it would be a lot worse for my child if I took her into the doctors to be injected with no prior warning or explanation about what would happen!

I feel for you OP, I also struggle with anxiety around these things. I used numbing cream called emla for the preschool injections. You can get it over the counter. It worked incredibly well- my son was totally unbothered (and he's highly sensitive like me and screamed his head off at all previous vaccines). The chemist said they're old enough to have the numbing cream at this stage (it wouldn't be safe for a younger baby)

She has said she's getting help with her mental health, in the very first post.

I don't think springing the vaccinations on them is a good suggestion - as OP has said, DC notice when they're taken out of their routine and brought to the doctor. They also notice that objections hurt! Much much better to lightly prepare them.

I give these vaccines every day.

In my experience it’s best if children are prepared - those that don’t know what they’re coming for or have been misled by pretending they’re coming for something else don’t cope as well. Keep it simple and factual. “You need some medicine in your muscles before you go to big school next year to stop you getting poorly. It’s a bit stingy but when it’s all finished we’ll have a treat”.

I make a fuss of them for being brave and give them stickers and a certificate to colour in.

They don’t need Calpol first but might need it later today if they get a fever. Some kids get another little wave of side effects eg fever, glands up and rash in 10-14 days. All normal.

The bing episode is great- DD (2.5) loves it and has asked several times when she can have a 'nacination'! 😂
She will be pleased to know her flu jab is booked for the end of the month.

Mini pack of buttons worked for mine, forgot all about it by the time they'd finished them. No side effects but calpol before is a good idea.
Try not to make a big deal out of it or she'll pick up on your anxiety. Just say it'll hurt a bit but it's very quick and it's going to stop her getting sick in the future.
It would be much worse if she got measles/mumps etc.

Just to update: my little girl was such a brave trooper! She apparently only cried very briefly on the second injection but managed really well overall. She was really pleased with her brave girl sticker from the nurse 🩷 Seems DD is much braver than mummy!

I recommend getting the chicken pox jab if you want to avoid DD having 2 weeks of itchiness.

Ah well done, glad she’s ok! I always sent DH to the 3 year old jabs too 😄

She's had chicken pox already as a baby so we are over that hurdle thankfully!

Delighted it went well OP! Well done for trusting your DH to get it done (that sounds patronising but I don't mean it to, I'm sure it was difficult).

Just as an FYI, if she had chickenpox before she was 1 she probably doesn't have immunity.