Preparing child for injections. Help please.

[Posey]

Ds is due his pre-school boosters on Tuesday, and am unsure how to prepare him. Generally I'm a great believer in being open and honest. With dd I told her where we were going, what would happen etc.
But ds is a completely different kettle of fish. I think if I try to tell him whats going to occur, I will never get him out of the house.
He won't open his mouth for the dentist and if pretty scared of the hairdresser
He's approaching 4 btw.
Advice please.

Tell him you are going to the drs for a check up
Tell him it doesn't hurt ( it doesn't)
Have a lollipop up your sleeve for afterwards

Hi Posey!

DD (5.9) is a bit older than your ds, but we had a very successful visit to the doctor two days ago for a flu jab.

I told dd that it would sting a bit, but that the jab was a good thing as it should prevent her from getting very sick. I explained that she was going to have the injection in her left arm which would help with any post-jab tenderness as she is right handed. I told her not to look at the needle, but to close her eyes. I held her in my lap (facing away from the doctor), and surprised her with an absolutely yummy sweet (that she adores) which she bit into just as the needle went into her arm. She was very distracted, didn't flinch at all, and the whole thing was a non-event. This is after a nearly hysterical child that I almost had to physically restrain same time last year....

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

Hi Earlybird!
Did you say all that to her at home, or once you got there? Glad the flu jabs went well. That sounds very like my experience with dd.
I'm inclined to say we're going for a check-up (thanks bluejelly!) and then be honest once we're in the room. The HV is really nice so am sure will help me out.

ds is the same, and after a lot of blood tests lately he is very nervous of needles. When we were off to the drs yest I felt really bad when he asked 'is it a hurting dr?' but sort of side stepped the question. Once we were in there I distracted him with a packet of raisins and aside from a flinch there was no reaction. I would jsut take his fv food to distract him, it works a treat.

We'd talked generally about the jab in advance, and I had answered any questions as they came up. On the way to the doctor's office, we talked about specifics. While we waited, we read a book together (hopefully helped anxiety/anticipation), and then we went into the room. I was scheduled for a jab too. I asked dd if she wanted me to go first, but she wanted to! That surprised me as I was half expecting her to crumble.

I think what helped was that I was honest with her in advance, so she knew what to expect. I also took steps to make the experience "better", which appeared to help. It really was no big deal - thankfully!