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Children's health

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Original poster

Flu spray refuser!

30 replies

allyally0 · 29/09/2021 15:45

Hello all.

A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I attended the doctor's surgery to get her flu spray administered. It was horrendous. The nurse asked me to hold her arms (which I don't really agree with but tried to do anyway) but this didn't help. After trying many times, I gave up as she was getting more and more distressed. The nurse was inexperienced with children, just kept trying to give her stickers. She suggested I try again with a different nurse but I can't imagine the next appointment being any different.

So I'm at a loss as to what to do now. I want to take her to toddler groups, which I've only just started doing, but from the last one she got a cold so...

I tried preparing her beforehand by doing roleplay with her but any forward planning or attempts to reason with her seems a little beyond her understanding.

Any advice?

Ally

OP posts:

Sirzy · 29/09/2021 16:20

To be honest for a toddler I would just do a bear hug and let the nurse do it quickly. I think sometimes as parents we can be guilty of making these things much bigger than they need to be

FelicityPike · 29/09/2021 16:22

Hold her arms tightly to her sides and kinda hold her head against your neck.
It’s over in seconds.

NerrSnerr · 29/09/2021 16:23

How old is she? If she's preschool age (which I assume as she'd get it in school) I'd just go for the bear hug and get it done quick. If older and it isn't done at school for whatever reason I'd go for bribery.

My 4 year old still mentions his preschool jabs when we walk past the GP as he wasn't impressed (and needed holding down) but they needed to be done.

NerrSnerr · 29/09/2021 16:24

The flu jab won't stop her from getting colds though unfortunately. Every small child around my area has a runny nose and a cough at the moment.

Jasmine11 · 29/09/2021 16:28

Why don’t you agree with holding her arms OP? Children don’t know what’s good for them but you as a parent do. And if you need to bear hug her so she can’t move while she gets the spray then what is the problem with doing that? It’ll be over in seconds!

Metallicalover · 29/09/2021 16:33

Flu nasal spray won't stop your little one getting colds, it would prevent flu. How old is she? Depending on age there's no explaining and role play that can help prepare them.
For the pre school jabs they're abit older and are aware of what's happening.

Original poster

allyally0 · 29/09/2021 16:57

Thanks for your replies. She was 2 in August, not yet at nursery. This is why I mentioned toddler groups as, although I know the flu spray wouldn't stop her getting colds, this would be the most likely place for her to get the flu.

To me it feels like I'm being abusive holding her against her will. I know it's for her own good but when I actually tried it, it made everything worse. Perhaps a better nurse would be able to work with what I was able to do...? She was moving her head all around while the nurse just came at her with the spray. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:

Metallicalover · 29/09/2021 17:04

My little one is a month older than your daughter and there would be no chance she would understand getting a nasal spray, she's too young. Very good at verbalising her likes and dislikes. I would have to restrain her.

Metallicalover · 29/09/2021 17:06

Restrain her using a bear hug. I don't think a different nurse would help as you can't reason with a toddler in situations like this.

WeAllHaveWings · 29/09/2021 17:08

It is not abusive to restrain your child for a medical procedure. They just can't understand why it needs to be done, it would have been much kinder a quick restrain, done and a cuddle/distraction after than a prolonged period of stress.

starfishmummy · 29/09/2021 17:12

Do they still give the option for tjem to have it as a jab? I know that my DS was (but he has long term med conditions). Much easier!

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 29/09/2021 17:43

What do you do if she needs a medicine she doesn’t like, or eye drops?

Ds2 needed injections 4 or more times a day from the age of 4, to keep him alive. He objected. I pinned him down.

So you need to decide whether flu is a risk to your daughter or not, and then do what she needs you to do.

Rainallnight · 29/09/2021 17:45

I don’t think you can put this on the nurse. At that age, they sort of expect you to hold the kid down while they do the procedure.

danni0509 · 29/09/2021 17:47

Ds (nearly 8) completely refuses, gets himself in a right state so he doesn’t have it.

hashbrownsandwich · 29/09/2021 17:47

I administer child's nasal flu. I can tell you, we don't enjoy you having to restrain the kids either!

I usually ask the child to have a look at the nasal spray as a lot of them panic and think it's an injection or that I'm going to use a needle.

I then ask them to tell me whether the one I'm using is a chocolate smelling one, or a strawberry. Most of them fall for it but I've had a few saying neither.

Best thing to do is adult sits in chair faci. Forward. Child sits sideways on lap. Adult hold across forehead and upper torso.

Administration takes a second per side.

3teens2cats · 29/09/2021 17:50

You can't negotiate with a two year old. Keep your tone bright and breezy, hold them tightly so the nurse can do it. Could be over in seconds if you don't let it become a big issue.

Adelino · 29/09/2021 17:50

Big hug and see if the nurse can approach from out of her eyeline. Get it done before she really even notices. Then big smiles, all done etc.
Before hand say you are going to the Dr to get a sticker- no mention of spray, as if its the least important part of the appointment.

worriedatthemoment · 29/09/2021 17:52

What will you do if she needs an emergency medical procedure ? You may have to help hold them
It should be for seconds anyway
You can't explain it at that age

Remmy123 · 29/09/2021 18:03

I wouldn't give it to her.. way too traumatic. Wait until she is school age.

Original poster

allyally0 · 29/09/2021 18:05

@hashbrownsandwich

I administer child's nasal flu. I can tell you, we don't enjoy you having to restrain the kids either!

I usually ask the child to have a look at the nasal spray as a lot of them panic and think it's an injection or that I'm going to use a needle.

I then ask them to tell me whether the one I'm using is a chocolate smelling one, or a strawberry. Most of them fall for it but I've had a few saying neither.

Best thing to do is adult sits in chair faci. Forward. Child sits sideways on lap. Adult hold across forehead and upper torso.

Administration takes a second per side.

This is exactly the help I was after, I really appreciate it. Thank you. I shall muster up the courage to try again and do this. I'm glad you are one of the few health care professionals who think of trying a different approach. (Not meaning to be rude to other posters).👍

OP posts:

Original poster

allyally0 · 29/09/2021 18:06

It really was. We don't need that extra stress in our lives!

OP posts:

SE13Mummy · 29/09/2021 18:30

This photo is similar to the position @hashbrownsandwich describes, by fixing the forehead with one hand and using the other to keep her outside arm down, your DD will feel secure rather than restricted. You might find it helps your confidence if you've had a chance to practise the position with your DD prior to the next appointment.

Original poster

allyally0 · 29/09/2021 18:42

Brilliant, thank you. 🙂

OP posts:

Rainallnight · 29/09/2021 18:42

@SE13Mummy is exactly right. You’ll need that position in case doctor ever needs to look in their ears all worth practising!

Rainallnight · 29/09/2021 18:43

so worth practising

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