How do you get a toddler to have a jab??!

[Discodolly100]

OK sounds like a bit of a silly question, but my 2.5 year old is booked in on Saturday for the swine flu jab. It's not so bad when they're babies as you can hold them down and they sort of don't know what's coming.... but I really don't know how to do it this time now he's older! He screams and goes mad even when the doc tries to look in his ears or whatever, so there's no way he's just going to sit there and let the nurse immunise him! Can anybody with toddlers or older kids offer any tips on the best way to do this? I don't want to traumatise him for life by holding him down; but then I guess we do this when they're much younger don't we?.... My husband will be with me if we need to do the restraint thing....

I would make sure you tell him in advance so that its not a surprise/ shock. Then just tell him how brave he is and buy him some sweets. I have a similar problem and am worried about taking mine as I have three ages 1, 2 and 4 and they will all see each other having it done. Good luck let me know how it goes.

Take some sweets and a strong arm.

He won't know what's coming, you can explain a little bit and promise a sweet afterwards (that's what we did with DS2 v. strong 2.11 yr old).

With the 2nd jab, he knew what was coming and it took me and DH to hold him down but I managed it alone 1st time! good luck

the nurse will show you how to 'restrain' them
Take some chocolate. He will have forgotten about it in 1/2 hour

My dd's fine with jabs/docs/dentists. It might be luck but we always make sure a week or so before any visit we start role playing. Mummy as doc, daddy as doc, dd as doc. Fun, breezy, not getting stressed about it myself or letting her think it's anything to be scared of. And on the day having something planned for afterwards, even if it's a trip to the supermarket so that we can chat while we're in the docs about 'oh nearly done here, can you remember what we need to buy from the shops, was it milk or bread?'. Almost like it's just a bit of the day. It's worked so far.

MIL never told DH, BILs or SIL where they were going and what they were doing and just turned up and had it done, holding them down once they'd realised. They are all frightened of needles and doctors. My Mum took the approach I do and needles don't bother me at all.

I told DD1 as we were leaving the house to go for her boosters, then showed her the chocolate buttons I had in my bag for her.
Afterwards we went and got her a cbeebies magazine as well as I felt so guilty

Bribery. I had a bag of dolly mixture (which DS never gets), told him that he needed medicine in his arm to stop germs making him ill, then put the bag of sweets on the nurses desk as she jabbed him (this was his preschool boosters). All he was concerned about was getting free to get his sweets

My DS1 is asthmatic so now has to have a flu jab every winter - this year of course he needed two as he also had the swine flu one. This is the first season that he has really protested, but I have just had to stand really firm with him because he needs to have them done, and there really is no alternative. He is now four and a half and ever since he was about 2, we have referred to any jabs as 'hurting arm medicine', so that it is distinct from any other reason for going to see the doctor/nurse. I would only tell him on the day, and certainly no more than 24 hours ahead of the actual jab, and try not to get into any negotiations or rise to any whinging on the subject.

Even when he didn't know what to expect I have explained to him that this 'hurting arm medicine' is a special type of medicine given in his arm and that it will hurt but only for a second and then it will stop (this is very important as this young, they have no understanding of time). Then I focus a lot on what nice thing we are going to do after the jab and also (if appropriate) what treat he might get immediately afterwards. Then we usually take some special toy of his choosing - either a cuddly or a book to look at - and having chosen it, this goes into my bag and we only bring it out when we are called into the room, so he knows that now is the time.

Once in the room, I strip his top-half down or unpeel his arm, whichever is best, before any fuss starts, sit him on my lap (side on to me, with his legs gently clamped between mine - and I do mean gently, I don;t want to stress him out, but it allows the grip to get stronger if necessary without allowing him to flail about wildly first!) and then hold the target arm (again gently but poised!) with both my hands, firmly. I then talk or sing gently to him while the shot happens and hold him more firmly if he squirms or tries to fight whats happening.

I keep reminding myself that it really only takes a few seconds. And that he needs it done. And that this is one of those occasions where he does not have a choice - so I don't offer any (except for those mentioned above). Lots of cuddles, praise and comforting afterwards and then on with the day - try not to dwell on it.

Two golden rules - don't say that it won't hurt and don't say that it won't happen again.

Hope it goes well. MPD