DS has vaccine tomorrow

[MumOfAToddler26]

DS 3.5 has his Pre school vaccines tomorrow afternoon, and I just have a feeling he is going to freak out about it.
All his other injections have been fine because when they are younger they are none the wiser you just hold them on your lap and a quick jab it's done and a few tears after they soon forget about it.
Now he's older I'm dreading it. I haven't said anything to him about going tomorrow yet as I know if I do he will start worrying and getting upset and asking what they are going to do etc and I didn't want him fretting about it all night and tomorrow morning at nursery.
What is the best way to do this?! Tell him tomorrow when I pick him up from nursery and then he will spend the next couple of hours worrying about it or just turn up and tell him just before we are going in?!
Help 😂

I would tell him in advance so you can prepare him. Although it might be a bit late now it’s today. I would explain to him why he needs vaccine and tell him it’s Ok to cry as it will hurt just a little bit and he can have a treat afterwards. On ceebies there is a bing episode and get well soon episode which covers vaccinations.

Definitely tell him in advance. Dd is petrified of all things painful, but I told her what we were doing, what would happen and why it was important. It makes it not a huge shock for them if they know what’s happening. I reminded her a couple of times beforehand and she was absolutely fine knowing. It would have been so much worse if I hadn’t mentioned it.

I sat Dd on my knee, and cuddled her in so she couldn’t turn her head to look at what was happening. It was a bit sore, but it was honestly about 5 seconds. We went and bought a magazine and sweets afterwards

Tell him between pick up from nursery and arrival at the doctor's

You can explain that it's really important, and it will feel like a hot scratch, but it only takes a second. Then he gets the best sweeties in the world afterwards for being good (or other major treat).

Don't talk about being brave - make it sound as insignificant as possible (and give no self-fulfilling prophecies such as possibility of crying). Deal reassuringly with anything that comes up when it comes up, but don't sow the seeds of 'this will be horrible'

At 3.5 my DSs understood that they didn’t like being ill. So I explained it would stop them getting ill and wasn’t that a good thing. I won’t pretend they enjoyed it but bright and breezy followed by a treat is the way to go. Whatever you do, please don’t show him how worried you are. Good luck, he’ll be fine!

Don't talk about being brave - make it sound as insignificant as possible (and give no self-fulfilling prophecies such as possibility of crying). Deal reassuringly with anything that comes up when it comes up, but don't sow the seeds of 'this will be horrible

This is great advice.

Yes prepare him for it. And whatever you do, don’t promise him that it won’t hurt, I’ve seen so many parents do this over the years and then you have to deal with a child that is upset about the jab, and the fact their parent lied to them.

Thanks for the advice everyone!
I did exactly what you guys said and he was so good!! I was really shocked he just took it all in his stride and was such a good boy 😊 x

Glad it went well!