Preparing a 4yr old for jabs. Prepare or surprise?

[Time2Hibernate]

Taking DS for his boosters this week. I mentioned it to my SIL who said she never prepares them for what's coming as she felt it was better to have the element of surprise and get it over with.

I was going to prepare DS with a general matter of fact: visit to the nurse who is going to give you an injection so you don't get really ill. It will be over very quickly and may not even notice a thing (something like that!!!)

Views? Do I say something or not?

Tell him on the morning so he desn't worry overnight - do tell him though, my DH didn't get told about an op when he was 5 and he has always remembered it - yikes!
Bring sweets.

Ds2 (3.8) has got his this week as well - I will not be telling him in advance, otherwise I will never get him in there!

However, I did prepare ds1 for his at the same age - he is a much more compliant child!

Say something. Definitely. Not fair to 'ambush' him. He needs to trust you, and to not dread visiting the doctor.

Bring along some of his favourite sweeties and let him focus on those just as the nurse is preparing to give him his jab. I also found that dd would be completely distracted if I was very close to her and blew a puff of air on her face at the moment of the injection too.

The combination of the special treats and 'surprise' puff of air was a distraction and she didn't focus on/dread the jab. In fact, not sure she felt it much!

as a children's nurse I would say prepare prepare prepare
tell the truth it will sting a bit and reward afterwards
much better to do it this way not days in advance but the day before or morning of
good luck

definitely prepare
matter o factly
not too far in advance

dont agree with any child (not gonna get him in there)

yes you can, you carry him and hold him down

but for gods sake dont ambush him, how will he ever trust you again

i tell dd and go armed with a lollipop to keep her arms still.

Thank you all. He's a fairly strong little chap (and minded!) so here's hoping the nurse has a good aim and swift reflexes

Prepare, but don't over-egg it (e.g. reading books about "Little Billy Has A Vaccination") or do it massively in advance. He's having an injection, it'll probably hurt at the time but only a little bit, and he can have Smarties afterwards.

Update: DS walked in. Nurse asked if he knew what he was there for? DS replied: Yes, I'm having an injection and it won't take long, then I can have a lollipop.

Sure enough - sat still, good as gold. Not a squeak. Lollipop produced.

Soon as outside he said: That needle was as sharp as Concorde's nose Mum!

He sounds like a real little character. Glad it went well for you both, and thanks everyone for the good tips here which I will shortly be using myself...

oh GOOD BOY.
didn't want to tell you before but the STUPID woman who did dd's last jab didn't hold her elbow so the needle went in, dd jumped so it came out, and she then just jammed the needle in again with her fist, really aggressively. i wanted to punch her in the face.

excellent news

Hurrah for minihiberbate! Great advice on here team, thanks!