Bloodtest on a nearly two year Lodi

[1978andallthat]

Is it awful?

Ds2 hated them, but when we went to the clinic ( once over two they had to be tested in clinic not on the ward with a nice bit of magic cream) we found that if you ask for two members of staff , it is much better. i put ds2 on my lap, cross my legs over him adn distract. One nurse holds his arms and the other does the test.

Ds2 HATEs them and struggles and kicks like the devil, but this is the quickest way we have found. it is a bit brutal, but is quick .

Good luck!

Old. Not Lodi. Oops

Ask if they can apply EMLA cream well in advance (you may then have to wait quite a while for it to start working though) in several places. The key is lots of distraction, something new, like a book with noisy buttons she can push with the arm which is not used. Have something sweet for her to suck as that is expected to reduce the pain sensation.

I find sitting dc on lap facing you with you holding the book behind your shoulder for her to see/push buttons. I would not let her see the blood taking as many kids find that very frightening. Tell her a story in the meantime or tell her to push on the buttons, basically distract her and have her focusing on you/book. I always give a small present directly afterwards. I have had to do this many many times and most of the times dc didn't make a sound/no tears, so it doesn't need to be traumatic for dc (probably is for you though).

Thanks. We had loads when she was a baby but none in last year or so. It's
Not urgent - gp suggested it because I am worried she's not had more than three weeks in a row without a cough/cold this year. But am 38 weeks pg and she is in tantrum phase and I don't know if I can face it tomorrow as planned, especially as it's at local polyclinic where they are all rude and horrible. May wait until fri when I can get to the blood test bit of the local hospital instead.

DS is just turned 3 and has had 3 blood tests in the past few months.

I am surprised the GP is doing it, ours have to be done in peads A and E (or on the ward when he was an inpatient) by peads specialists. Not only did this help with the technique but they knew the best positions to sit him in, could help distract well etc.

They have a numbing spray that can be used which is great as there is no need to sit around waiting for it to work like you do with the elma cream

Ah thank you. Gp not doing it. Choice is local hospital or the big gp practise/poly clinic which is a horrible place where every member of staff is surly and rude. But I will ring local hospital and check what they do for paeds and see if they will use spray and have a plan then I can take her fri.

my 2 yr old dd had blood tests in the summer. She had the cream applied on the inside of her elbows but they couldn't get a vein so decided to take some out of her hand instead. The staff (a very small childrens ward) were all dreading doing it so we had to wait for a registrar to be free to do it. I was anticipating tears, tantrums pinning her down etc. It was fine, she sat in a bed with a pillow in front of her hand so she couldn't see it. On nurse showing her a noisy book & me the other side blowing bubbles for her. She loved it & never noticed a thing even though she had no cream on her hand first.