Traumatized by pre-school jabs?

[1mum1]

My 4 yo daughter had her pre-school jabs 3 weeks ago. I prepared her before she went in (but not too much as to build it up) but she was very upset straight after the jabs and her arms were sore for a day or so after. I must say the nurse who does the jabs is a bit of a nervous wreck, although this particular day she wasn't too bad. Now every time i change her top she grabs her arms and repeats 'don't take the plasters off' - same plasters from the day of the jabs. I've done everything to calm her (told her of my experiences of jabs as a child and adult, that all the other little ones in her playgroup will be being brave and having theirs too, explained that she wont be having any more jabs and that the plasters wont hurt if i take them off). I've asked what she is scared of and she says of having more injections. She has become obsessive about these plasters staying on, it's really awful for her. I just give her loads of hugs to reassure her and keep talking it through when she gets upset but wondering what i can do to help next? i said 'imagine how lovely it will be to not have the plasters on so you can relax about it' - to which did smile!

I would start by taking the plasters off when she was asleep - "Oh dear! They must have fallen off in the night!" That should help reduce the obsessing because she won't have a constant reminder.

My DD2 used to check every time we drove anywhere near the surgery for weeks afterwards that she wasn't going for any more injections. Attending appointments was difficult for months afterwards as she was convinced I was tricking her into going for more. Not that I have ever tricked her. I am always open and honest about things like that.

Haven't they come off in the bath. If they soak off they won't hurt her having them taken off.

Just ignore it. With ds I didn't tell him until the morning he was having a jab. We then didn't mention it unless he did.

So just carry on as normal. She'll take her cue from you.

Thanks for your replies! They're still half on, we've tried everything. We can see now though that it's just fluff stuck underneath and nothing too rank! She has never been fixated like this on anything before, it's bizarre! She's fearing the bath now and me putting her cream on after her bath for fear i'll take them off. She's fine the rest of the time, just at clothes changing time/ bath time. She's starting sucking her thumb occasionally since the jabs too - though i'm trying to stop that straight away - she's never done that before! Now i know there's no real muck under the plasters, i'm going to just not mention it as no deals in any shape or form have worked so far! x

I would ignore too, my daughter was like this with her first glitter tattoo!! Refused baths, crying, holding her arm awkwardly. I realised it was the tattoo so we had to cover it over before she got into the shower but it was all very awkward.

Finally she relented, I wiped them off & all back to normal. Whip the plasters off in her sleep?

Have thought of taken them off while she's asleep but have visions of her catching me taking them off! (never be trusted again!) might try later and if no luck i'll let let drop off whenever and going to try not to mention it! Thank you x

We've just gone through similar with 3.7yo dd. Her plasters stayed for 3 weeks too, until I lost patience with the whole thing. We had to hold her still to take them off, but in the tantrum she didn't actually notice they'd come off. Was bloody heart-wrenching to do it though

I had to take her to the docs on Saturday as she has an ear infection. Before we went in she asked if the doctor was going to give her injections again - I felt like crying!

But she's forgotten about the plasters. I know my fear of needles must stem from pre-school jabs, but I don't let her catch on to that, all the pregnancy needles helped me get over that!

Sorry, I don't think any of that is very helpful is it? Dd has forgotten about the plasters now at any rate

Repeated myself a bit there! I blame the sherry, tis Christmas after all...