how do you prepare a 3yo for injections?

[happygelfling]

My 3yo DD will be called in for immunisations soon. A close friend with a slightly older DD told me that she was thoroughly told off by the nurse giving her daughter's injections because she "had not adequately prepared the child for what was going to happen"... My friend's responses were firstly, if I'd told my child what was going to happen she would have refused to go, and secondly, how can you prepare a child for this?
I know that my DD is usually better behaved when she knows what will happen and what is expected of her, but how can I prepare her without putting her off completely? What approaches have you all taken and what was the result?
Thanks for your help!

I waited until we were in the waiting room and then explained that she needed it to stop her getting ill and that it would hurt for a second, but only for a second. I took chocolate and gave it to her afterwards.

I opted to pay for Meningitis B and Hep B for her. Each requires 2 injections, but at different intervals (so a total of 3 trips to the doctor). She was most definitely not impressed with the second injection and I had a real problem getting her in the door for the third. I did bribe with chocolate. She was fine afterwards. We did plasters with pictures on and that helped too.

She has a toy medical set that she loves and she did get her own back on me the next week by pinning me down and giving me lots of injections, instructing me to cry (and laughing like a mad thing when I did) and then gleefully stating that she was all out of both chocolate and stickers, so I wasn't getting either!

My parents used to get me a mr man hook every time I had an injection.
I have always gone and had mine at the same time (flu etc) so I have gone first and shown how not-bad it is and then she has gone.

Also, sweets.....

I ve always done little practise scratches with them so they all knew what to expect. They could do it to me and I d show them.
I had needle phobia and its when you built it up into worse than it is it gets scary. We would plan something nice for after and they always knew that it would be a scratch them over and never had any problems with all 3

I remember this so well (I'm 32) my mum explained what they were for and bought me a green my little pony in a brown paper bag that I could have afterwards. I'll never forget the smell of that my little pony as I opened the bag! Ahhh...

Probably not an NHS strategy but I unwrapped a chocolate bar just as they wiped her arm and promptly shoved it in her mouth just as the needle went in.

Didn't notice a thing!

Similar to others. I didn't mention it until the morning of the appointment and explained that it would feel 'jaggy' but that it was important to stop DS getting ill in the future.

Stopped to buy ginormous bag of chocolate buttons on the way which he held through the appointment.

We were lucky that the surgery has two nurses working together so no 2nd injection. I also find it easier having DS sitting on my lap facing me not facing away.

Job done. DS screamed for 5secs. I cried (can't help it). Chocolate buttons. Forgotten in 10mins.

Thanks for all the ideas!
Chocolate seems to be a common theme. (What better pick-me-up is there?) I like the idea of stuffing it into her mouth when the injection goes in
My DD also has a medical kit and I can see us all being subjected to injections afterwards. cardamom I have a lovely image of your DD giving you pretend injections..!
Describing it as a sharp scratch (or similar) which will go away quickly sounds sensible.
I think I may take chocolate for me too in case it's traumatic.

I told mine that they needed the injection to stop them getting nasty illnesses. I said they'd feel a little hurt and just have time to think 'Ouch I don't like that' then it would stop and not hurt any more. Both were fine.