How should I prepare my ASD ds for his pre-school booster?

[QueenEagle]

Only got his "preliminary diagnosis" last Wedsnesday so overlooked that he has his booster tomorrow afternoon.

I know he will kick off when the nurse comes anywhere near him. I haven't had enough time (a good few days with an event like this) to prep him properly.

Any advice? Should I prewarn the nurse too?

Probably best to warn him beforehand, but whether day before or just before is up to you. Day before might mean he goes on and on about it, but just before might be rather a shock for him. BTW my ASD DS actually was fine, whereas my DD (not with ASD) screamed so loudly and terribly when she saw the needle that people came rushing in from the other rooms cos they thought something terrible had happened! And when we passed through the waiting room on the way out we certainly got some stares! Good luck anyway.

Shall I just go ahead with it and ride through the expected mega screaming tantrum?

Sorry x-posted!

I probably could prep him during tommorrow but despite all that I just know he will resist having his clothing pulled up or down to actually administer the jab. I think I will have to end up just being a bit more forceful than I'd like just to get it over and done with tbh.

Phone the surgery beforehand. Mine have always been excellent with things like that.

You could skip it? I haven't seen any scientific validation for all these boosters they keep giving.

With my son I bought him a power ranger comic and read to him. He didnt even notice the first jab and with the second jab he just turned round to the nurse and said "thats not very nice!" I also gave him a small present afterwards.

My son isnt autisic, but I think that distraction works for most children. I didnt tell my son that he would be getting a needle in his arm.

Explain to him in as simple terms as possible that its going to happen, forewarn teh surgery - they should know what to expect really.

I made sure Ds2 had teh DTP first - that way if he went apesh*t he owuld have had teh important one. As it turns out he just looked at the nurse like she was dirt and let her do teh second one with no problems at all.

he's autistic and he minimal preparation - but hisunderstanding isn't at a level that we really oculd prepare him without it being weeks in advance and that would just gie him the message that going to the drs would hurt him... which in the longer term would be counter productive.

Thanks for your replies.

In the end I told him he was having some medicine in his arm and it would "pinch".

I forewarned the nurse and it went really well, much better than I expected. There were 3 nurses in the room, one distracted my younger ds4 and the 2 others had a needle each and did one in each arm at the same time. Of course they tried to talk to him about his fave things but he just put his head down and (as usual) and made no response. ds3 didn't even flinch with the needles although he gave them the filthiest look!

Ah the 'and what do you think your doing you steaming lum of elephnat poo' look.

Glad it went OK! bet your releived, lord knows I was when Dsd2 didn't 'let rip' after his.

"steaming lump of elephant poo"!!!

Yes, that one!