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Children's health

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Original poster

what to tell a 3 1/2 year old about vaccination date next week

21 replies

bumbly · 14/01/2011 12:37

tell him anything?

tell him it will hurt?

tell him nothing?

argh!!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

notnowbernard · 14/01/2011 12:41

Tell him on the day of the vax

Tell him what it is for and why he is having it

Tell him how the nurse gives it

Tell him it will probably hurt

Tell him he had them when he was a little baby as well

Get him sweeties/ice-cream/comic/treat-of-choice on the way home

Original poster

bumbly · 14/01/2011 12:44

thanks think that is def the way

last night first night in ages no noghtmares so i am worried they wioll start again with this probably horrible experience

should he go to nursery that afternoon?

would he be tired? or will it distract him?

OP posts:

BornToFolk · 14/01/2011 12:45

Tell him he's going to have an injection to stop him getting poorly and leave it at that. Don't say it might hurt or act concerned.
DS didn't blink at his swine flu one last year and the rest of the kids coming out seemed very unconcerned too. So sometimes, it doesn't hurt.

Actually, I've had a re-think If he asks you if it'll hurt, you have to say yes, it might do. But Mummy will be there, holding hands and yes, definitely a treat on the way home!

claireybear82 · 14/01/2011 12:47

first of all dont talk like that ^^ he will pick up on the negativity a mile off!

tell him on the day. tell him it will hurt for a second but that if he sits still then hes a REALLY REALLY good brave boy.

i always find a bit of bribary works as well ;)

they all react differently to jabs. didnt effect my 2 at all so would be fine at nursery but known other kids to get a high temp etc afterwards so u will have to see how he is on the day

notnowbernard · 14/01/2011 12:47

he might be fine - you'll have to judge at the time

be quite matter-of-fact about it

don't let him see you upset about it beforehand

what vax is it?

mumblechum · 14/01/2011 12:50

Tell him a few minutes before. Say it will hurt a bit but that you'll give him a lolly or whatever immediately after the jab.

Then carry on as normal with nursery etc. I think you should be honest about it hurting a bit, but say it'll be over very quickly and is to stop him getting poorly.

dikkertjedap · 14/01/2011 14:01

I would tell him either on the morning or the day before that he will have a vaccination to make sure he doesn't get this nasty flu which is making so many people poorly. If you also have had vaccination I would tell him that as well. Just before and just after I would give him something sweet (chocolate whatever) as this has been found to reduce the pain in studies in babies. Also, ask in advance if doctor can use that special gel (needs to be done a little in advance, so you will have to wait for it to work) to numb vaccination site so doesn't hurt when needle goes in. Also, during vaccination lots of distraction and I would not allow him to see the actual vaccination (I would turn his head away and let him push buttons on one of those noisy button books, zingzillas, etc there are lots, good distraction because he actually needs to do something so you keep him occupied). I did all this when dd had canulas inserted and it worked well - she did not cry at all (they did use special cream though). I find being honest about things is best otherwise they will ultimately lose trust in you, yes, when the doctor does 'ping' it might hurt a little but much better than getting very ill. Maybe give him a small present afterwards for being brave???

ShowOfHands · 14/01/2011 14:06

Tell him. 3yr olds are bright and they trust you. If you turn up and somebody suddenly jabs him with a needle and you let him with no prior warning, he'll hate the doctors forevermore and expect it at any given moment.

My dd is 3 and is v interested in antibodies (she says they're germ soldiers). Can you tell him about how clever his body is and how we can do things to stop it being poorly. That he'll have little soldiers created inside him that stop germs getting in and making him ill.

DD practically enjoys vaccines and waffles on at the nurse about immune systems and what a clever body she has.

dikkertjedap · 14/01/2011 14:13

Brilliant show of hands, especially germ soldiers as children can really picture that I think, also great that she understands it helps her body from getting her poorly.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 14/01/2011 14:16

'you're going to have a jab which will hurt a little bit and then you will get a sweet'.
IMO they are more excited about the sweet than worried about the jab. If you don't make a big deal of it they are less likely to.

Ooopsadaisy · 14/01/2011 14:21

Told my dc's that they just had to see the nurse before they could start school (which they were very excited about) - therefore it was something they would want to do.

Told them nurse would put a little something in their arm.

Had chocolate buttons in pocket as a distraction for when needle went in.

"Oh - what's this in my pocket - Wow! - Choc buttons - would you like some?"

Neither child even noticed jab.

I am a liar and bribe my children. I am a bad person.

charliesweb · 14/01/2011 14:24

DS2 had his on Tuesday. I told him we were going to se the nurse so she could give him special medicine that stops him getting sick. (Wish I had used the germ soldiers analogy now as he loves anything to do with soldiers). I didn't mention it would hurt, because I worrried he might dwell on this and get worried. When I took him in I was very matter of fact and sat him on my knee. He had his in his arms (be prepared it is 2 jabs). The nurse asked me to put his legs between mine to stop him wiggling and to hold his hands. The first was very quick and he looked a little surprised, but he didn't resist having the second. After he hardly mentioned the pain and was very happy to be choosing sweets.

winnybella · 14/01/2011 14:25

I think I should write to the Emla people and request they pay me as I advertise them on threads like this one

Right, go to the chemists and buy Emla patch (or two if he's getting 2 jabs). I don't know if in the UK you need the prescription for that- don't think so. It's just a topical analgesic.

DS (8) had to have 2 boosters couple of months ago and was very scared- he didn't feel anything at all.

DD (23) mo has had it for most of her jabs and with mostly didn't feel anything and with a couple that she did (guess it depends on whether it's in the muscle vs under the skin)she cried for about 5 seconds as opposed to 5 minutes when she didn't have the patch.

So, I would tell him that he'll have the jab but also that he'll have a special patch that will make it not hurt.

winnybella · 14/01/2011 14:26

Oh, yes, and chocolate works very well, patch or no patch.

2cats2many · 14/01/2011 14:27

I was completely honest with mine. I told her she was having it a few days before and why she was having it.

I also told her it was going to hurt, but only for a moment and that she would have lollipop to suck the whole way through ( she doesn't get those very often). I think it was the lollipop that clinched the deal.

thetideishigh · 14/01/2011 14:40

IMHO 5 minutes notice is plenty.

Have chocolate/child's treat of choice in your bag/hand at the ready. I let ds have a mouthful of chocolate buttons just before the jab but he opened his mouth wide to howl and dribbly chocolate stuff dripped out. Yuk !

BlackSwan · 14/01/2011 14:43

I still remember what my mother told me after my childhood vaccination when i was crying - "You know sometimes you see children in wheelchairs? That's because they didn't get an injection." Scare tactic. Well it shut me up. Then I got a dolly and as soon as we got home my brother ripped it's head off.

Original poster

bumbly · 14/01/2011 21:35

thanks so muich for this most useful thread

little soldiers is a fab concept

and bringing a lollipop

fab ideas

he is having his MMR booster

think will tell him on the morning i think...

OP posts:

twirlymum · 14/01/2011 21:45

Very useful, thanks. DS has his pre-school boosters next week.

stigofthedump · 14/01/2011 22:01

I am packing lollipop into handbag.

Original poster

bumbly · 21/01/2011 12:19

thanks to all the post the vaccination came and we were ok

few tears but no major issue and the germ soldiers really helped and so did the lolly

thanks to all for your help!!!!!!!

thanks

OP posts:

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