Won't let strangers (doctors/ hairdressers etc) near him

[albazavi]

I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with similar and can give some advice.

I have a 2year old ds who is bubbly, sociable and a delight with people he knows. He's really cuddly with other children and has some very strong bonds with extended family (grandparents in particular). Before going on maternity leave with ds2 (3 months), I worked 4 days a week and he was in nursery 3 days and looked after by grandparents on 1 day. I just wanted to give context so you could see that he is well socialised.

Whenever we have to have an appointment where he has to interact with a stranger and they have to touch him (hairdresser, doctor, nurse, shoe measuring), he goes absolutely mental and screams blue murder. Screaming, coughing, thrashing- the works.

We've had to have lots of tests with doctors in the last 2 weeks for him, today resulted in the test being cancelled as he was too distressed.

He's had to see doctors a lot and had his haircut since he was 6 months old. He is used to the places and experiences but it still doesn't make a difference. The play team at the hospital tried to help last tome but it didn't work.

We are likely going to have to continue with more medical appointments in his life and he will need his haircut.

Has anyone had experience with this and any tips on how to make it more bearable. Bribery/ distractions don't seem to work.

I think it just takes time. At 2 my son was the same - his first hairdresser experience was horrific... but now he’s 2.6 he is so much better. I didn’t do anything differently we just went to the (same) hairdresser one time and he was fine! Same with the doctors-screaming one appointment and then absolutely fine a few months later.

My boy is still like that at almost four. Absolutely fine at nursery, with friends, grandparent, people he knows but does not let anyone else touch him. Had to have some medical tests a few months ago and we had to hold him down, nothing could distruct him, toys or cartoons. For preschool booster I 've asked the nurse to do it as quickly as she possibly can while I hold him. Never been to hairdresser yet, I cut his hair myself.
Everyone who knows him well is very surprised when I tell them about it because he is friendly and talkative boy, replies to strangers if asked a question, etc. He is doing swimming lessons and lets the coach hold/assist him (we had to change the coach because he did not like the first one and did not let him near himself).
Nursery have no concern and I think it is slowly getting better and he will grow and will be able to better control his emotions. But no practical advise, sorry. The very few times GP managed to listen to his chest were when he was given otoscope/or some other instrument by the doctor and was so excited by this so forgot to start screaming and kicking on time. And then it was over.