pre school booster. dd just went bonkers and couldn't get injections done

[toomuchtooyoung]

what to do next time?
had lollipop on standby, said she needed to be super brave so she could go to big school.......but she just screamed and writhed around so much had to give up

feeling a bit of a crap mother tbh. ds was also getting upset that his big sister was so distraught

DD1 reacts really badly to the idea of vaccinations, and we had to get a set of 3 top-ups when we moved here (NZ) to keep up with the local system.

After a dreadful reaction (sobbing screaming etc) for the first one, I decided that leading her into it gently was the best plan - bad idea. I told her the night before: she cried herself to sleep, she sobbed in the waiting room, screamed when the nurse came in. It was horrible. But frankly it had to be done, and on a pretty short time scale for starting school. So I sat her on my knee like they have you do with toddlers, held her arms by her sides in a hug (again like you do with toddlers) and the nurse gave it to her really quickly.

3rd one, I didn't tell her in advance, but she knew as soon as we went into the doctors. Similar crying and shouting in the nurses office, but was a little easier to contain.

It wasn't pleasant for any of us, but frankly, having to put her through the stress of trying again another day was just too much.

I was full of praise, and treats afterwards (and had arranged for DD2 to be elsewhere so I only had to concentrate on DD1), and I definitely think that the "hug hold" helped DD1 a bit too, as she certainly leant into me a bit for the 3rd one.

thanks for replying vvviola, glad you had a positive outcome. only told dd once she was in the pram, I knew she'd worry otherwise. tried to pin her arms down but ds was trying to climb over both of us. didn't help that the nurse started tutting as she had a queue outside waiting for their jabs

will try again with dh to look after ds

how they'll get 2 injections in her I dread to think!

The nurse in our old surgery used to do two at once for the baby jabs, one in each leg. It was a sight to behold She used to pride herself on having the vaccinations done before the little ones even realised what was going on.

sounds hard for you and her. Would it work better if you and dh took her together if you can get care for your younger child. Or send dh with her.
I remember crying myself when dd had jabs as a baby (out of character for me)
and don't tell her in advance? tell her on arrival. (or with mine I took her to sweetshop en route and she chose her reward!)

I was wondering how it failed? Not in the Uk, they kept bringing more people in to "hold" DD1 until it was done. The worse day was 2 nurses, the doc and me.
She was completely fine afterward it was a weird anticipation thing.

Don't say anything in advance, don't take younger children if you don't want them to be traumatised or strap them in the pram, manpower (you and the nurse isn't going to be enough if you lo is anything like DD1), don't ever lie to them about what is going to happen, the best position, if you can, is the child straddle with is face to your chest in a cuddle.

it failed because the nurse just sat there looking at me, waiting for me to sort it out. unfortunately no-one available to take ds, but he certainly won't be coming next time

she's 3.5 now, is there an optimum time which she needs to have jabs by?

Don't feel bad, these things happen and really the nurse should have helped or Got another member of staff in to help so you could just get the vaccinations done.

thanks all, feeling a tiny bit less useless now
with hindsight feeling a bit annoyed the nurse did nothing to help. could've been over and done with already.......

When you re make the appt I would mention the problems you had and that you will need support at the appt to enable the nurse to do the vaccination.
Is there anybody who could go with you at all as well? Sometimes it really does just take an extra pair of hands! If you can keep dc still it just takes a few seconds then its over and done with.

Good luck. I know how horrible it is when dcs need an injection but really don't want it!

I don't know if there's an optimum time, but dd1 had hers last week, and a booster, as we've been living in Oz (different vaccination schedule), and she's 4.5.

I had to hold dd's arms. Usually, she loves things medical, but she hated these jabs. I also left dd2 at home with my dm.

My DS1 was shocking at it. Screaming, kicking, lashing out, he'd move his arm when the nurse went to put the needle in. We had to hold him down, arms by side, while nurse gave jabs in legs. It's awful!

About 3 injections ago, DH was holding him in the hug hold and dared smirk at him when he had the jab, so DS1 slapped him in the face. The next time, I had to hold him down. Just dreadful. The 2nd last one, we both ended up crying and laughing, it was a ridiculous situation. The very last one he had, he went in no problems at all and got it in his arm .

He is 6 and we delayed some injections, he had to have them all caught up to go to school in the US.

How about Emla cream? I was phobic as a child but this really helped as I knew it wouldn't hurt.

There's a cold spray too, ds1 likes that as if he has the Emla on he gets nervous anticipating the jab but with the spray its just a quick freezing cold burst then jab or blood test. That said when my dsis was between 14-21 she had Emla for every blood test and thought it was wonderful stuff.

I'd send dh, honestly. He will be more relaxed as probably he hasn't experienced vaccinations before.

Fwiw the nurse didn't sound particularly helpful if she just stood there. She should have at least been trying to engage with her little patient.

anyone know if we can get them done privately? think dd will freak again when she just sees the nurse, before she even get near her with a needle

I think you can but it will be expensive! Could you ask to see a different nurse next time?