Preparing son for injection

[Eastsider]

Does anyone have any advice on how to best prepare my soon-to-be 5 year old son for his upcoming MMR booster? It will be the first injection he has had as a older child so I feel slightly anxious for him and want to be able to prepare him so it will be as untraumatic as possible.

Any advice would be very welcome. Also, if anyone can recommend a good children's book which deals with the issue - would be much appreciated.

Just a thought, but would 'preparing' him not make any anxiety worse? could you just talk him through what is happening as the nurse does it?

That was my initial thought - to tell him on the morning and play it down. Thanks for your advice, it shall be taken!

oh good, it's not just me that thinks like that [phewsmiley]

I was honest and said that it would probably hurt a bit, but just for a little while. And I did a big sell on the packet of Smarties afterwards.

(DS tends to need a bit of time to warm up to things, so I mentioned it fairly casually the day before and then again in the morning)

Oh god don't prepare with a book or little chat, please. It will make an issue out of it.

What the other posters said - tell him on day, say it WILL hurt but just a prick an all over with, with lure of treat/chocolate afterwards. Job done.