3 1/2 year old terrified of jabs

[wrigleys123]

Has anyone else managed to get their terrified child through these jabs? I don't know how to approach it as she is terrified of the doctors and has only been a handful of times, every time being a disaster!

My GP surgery isn't particularly helpful and I want to make sure she gets them, but don't want to have to physically pin her down and scar her for life! She is not easily bribed or fooled or anything like that. I tried to take her to the dentist before and she ran out.

Any words of advice would be appreciated as I am really at a loss!

I’m not able to help but am facing the same situation, so you’re not alone. I am dreading it, unfortunately I think pinning my DC down will be the only option. I can’t see that anything else could possibly work, and she has to have them. I think I’m just going to have a lovely present and some treats ready for immediately afterwards, it’s the best I think I can do in the situation.

Hopefully someone with more experience and wise words will come along!

I explained to mine what the immunisations were for, in simple terms they could understand at that age. I said it was a tiny scratch of special stuff to stop them getting lots of nasty illnesses, and that they were to remember to say thank you to the doctor for giving it to them.
Try and avoid a word like “jab” - it sounds like a brutal assault with a spike!
Also, if you approach the whole thing in a calm, matter of fact way and don’t show anxiety yourself, or build it up into a big deal, your child is likely to take their cue from you.
My GP was gobsmacked when my then two year old said “Thank you” after receiving her immunisations - she wasn’t expecting that!

Thanks for your replies, I am actually really calm to be honest and for both the other immunisations it was me that held her down whilst her Dad was all in a flap, I remember the last ones the nurse had a go at me as I didn't hold her down enough and she had to do it again so maybe that's playing on my mind a little bit.

Maybe I could change GP, bit drastic but been thinking about it anyway as I said they are pretty useless. Or was thinking I could wrap a little present from the nurse to give to her? Again maybe a bit drastic!

Good luck with your little girl Carrie , you have my solidarity

My first was like that when he was younger. As he got older and had a good understanding I told him about what will happen, why we do it and that it will hurt a little but it wouldn't last long. I told him that it seems scary to have injections but it feel like a pinch and that he was brave and strong. Wish you all the best.

Get a calpol syringe and ask her to give you an injection

Play with it - give the Teddy’s and dolls theirs give praise

)oh and give calpol before you go I burst less

It hurts less

Did you take your DD yet Carrie? I have booked the appointment but still not sure how it's going to work!

We talked about it a lot beforehand and she was happy enough to go - explained it was just a little scratch and then we’d go get ice cream. She was perfectly calm about it all, and then utterly traumatised by the whole thing. Sobbed for hours and then woke up screaming ‘no more scratches’. God knows how I’ll get her to the next ones!

Sounds like she has learnt to be scared. Are you sure you're not passing on your own fears.
She needs to learn to go to the doctor and cooperate, even if she is scared. You are probably the best placed person to know how to talk to her about this, but really, I don't see the use in building kids up for jabs.
My nephew was talked to about his for days before and had to be dragged into the surgery screaming as he was so stressed about what was coming up. When he had it, he just giggled

Mine had hers in June and I put her favourite cartoon to watch on my phone and some sweets. She didn't even notice as it was on the top of her arms and not the legs.

DS had his last week, he was told in advance nothing more than we had to go to the doctors and let the nurse look at his arms to make sure they were ok, the once we were done we would go for Ice cream with daddy.

He was fine, Cried getting them of course, but then once was done and told he could have ice cream he soon forgot about it.

I think TV on my phone and sweets is the way to go then! Honestly I've hardly mentioned it to her and definitely not been making her scared, as I said it's been me the last time holding her and I was completely calm - she is just a massive drama queen!