How to approach jabs subject with DD?

[migola]

My DD can be a bit of a drama queen (4yo!) and she has her MMR (and another) booster this afternoon. Now I haven't told her yet - do I tell her now, just before we go, or just as the nurse is about to do it? Don't want her tensing up when we're with the nurse as it might make things worse? But I don't want to not say anything because that's unfair.

I have chocolate buttons and special disney plasters at the ready for after

Dreading this too, i think i'll play the whole thing down, but be as honest as possible.

Tell her it's a really clever way of getting medicine in, without having to taste it, but not until the very last minute....if i can get to the car park without telling her much at all i think that will ease things up a bit.

Stickers work wonders! DD had some tests done yesterday, she's so proud of her sticker

too late to buy stickers (wonder if the nurse will have some?)

I think I'll tell her on the way down that she has to go & see the nurse for some medicine, then when we're there I'll say it's an injection (aaagh) and that it might hurt a little bit but not for long

they usually them there IME, good luck x

I told my dd the day before we were going to drs to get pre school jab. Reassured her not to worry as she had jabs when she was a baby and although you cried you where so brave and I was so proud of you!!

dd asked why she needed a jab and I explained what childhood diseases they where for and that it stops all the children catching them and being very poorly. she did understand this. she asked if it hurt and I said it will feel like a scratch and she will be fine strait away. I did tell her if she was brave and didnt make a fuss I would take her for a treat.

she cried and after said I cant have a treat as I wasnt brave. But I told her she was very brave and deserved a treat.

on the other hand my dsis did not tell her ds untill they where on their way as he would have been worried about it. Just reassure them that you are proud of how brave and get a little treat after.

the nurse definatly had stickers.

awww itsabiggy bless your dd!

I was going to say I'll get her a comic afterwards. I think I'll tell her now - it's in an hour's time as don't want her worrying too much either.

That's a great idea to say she had some when she was a baby, thanks for that tip

good luck I remember the feeling was almost worse than baby jabs as you know you are answerable to older children and they place their trust in you. she will be fine and so will you. xx

exactly, and also it's the fact that she knows what's coming with the second one. I just told her btw and she did a little bit of a (false) whimper and said 'I don't like it', and I said it won't last long etc etc, and after 2 mins she went off playing again! It will be a different story when we're there though

You need to tell before they go into the room. The local practice nurse won't do a (young) child who hasn't been told before they go into the room because there have been children absolutely flipping their lids in the waiting room the next time they are taken into the waiting room.
With dd2, who's a drama queen, I gave her a "magic" lolly to suck to help take the pain away. She assured me it worked. Her imagination is great for that sort of thing