Hi,

I am just wondering if anyone has any good advice on pre-school injections.  I have just had the letter through that my 3 year old Son is due his booster injections, and I am a little worried. 

My 3 year old is quite strong willed and getting him to sit still to have his hair cut can be a bit of a challenge. However I am worried that faced with a Doctors Surgery and needles he is going to freak out. I have spoken to the Health Visitor to get some advice and she told me that prepared children are often much better at sitting for injections.

So I thought I could get a toy nurses set and play act the injections etc to make my son aware of what will happen.  But does anyone have any good childrens book suggestions on the subject? Or any other good advice from personal experience?

Knowing kids it could be hit or miss, he could sit and have them done or it could be showdown!

Kelly x

My DS was 3 when he had his and although a lively little boy, he just sat there in awe in the doctor's surgery. I'd explained what was going to happen and taken chocolate as a treat for afterward. The nurse wouldn't let me give him the chocolate buttons while he actually having his injections 'in case he chokes'. They gave him two injections (one in each leg because his arms were too skinny) and although he knew the first one hurt a little, he didn't make a fuss about her doing the second one.

I don't think he was as bad at this age as my DD was at 6 when i took her for a Hepititus jab (we were going on holiday to Morocco). I probably wouldn't remind him too much about what's going to happen and would think that playing at giving him injections might make him more nervous. I always tell my kids on the day that we're going. With my dd i told her 10 minutes before we had to leave for the surgery because i knew she'd worry.

HTH

Zarina

I may be odd, but since she was about 2 I have explained to my DD why she has injections - to stop her getting really nasty illnesses which might make her be really sick and have to stay a long time in hospital. We do have slightly more vaccinations here, the most recent was just before she turned 4, now she is set for 3 years I think, until she needs a booster.

I must say she has always understood, in her way, and on all but one occasion been good and brave about it - I do also have the luxury of some choice about who does her injections, and our GP is brilliant with kids and asks her direct questions which she is interested in answering in order to distract her, and gives her a sweet afterwards lol. The only bad experience I have had with her is when the paediatrician did one and talked over her head to me, asking me medical questions that needed answering and ignoring her, and giving her a chance to watch him prep the needle with no meaningful distraction - then she screamed!

With my son I used distraction until recently, but last time made more fuss and seemed a bit betrayed (he cried "Dr Moll hurt my arm!" in a totally disbelieving and shocked whine - he was nearly 2) so I will explain before hand next time.

I agree not to build up to it too much and do the explaining on the day, but before you actually leave thou house lol. I'd combine explanation on his level, distraction while it is being done, and promise of a small treat straight after!

Good luck!

Thanks all, thats really good advice my son is a bit of a chatter box so hopefully if he gets into an intersting conversation with the Doctor he might be distracted by the first injection but will not be happy to have the second one.  Fingers crossed!

It must be hard being 3 and wondering why Mummy has let the Doctor stab you with a needle! 

Thanks for posting this and reminding that I have to get my DD's sorted. I will wait til the xmas holiday as her last lot (she is very big for her age) she pulled loose from me, grabbed the needle, bent it and had to have it redone and then the other leg!

I've told H he has to go with me! hence doing it in the Xmas break...

I will explain to her as well rather than springing it on her as I think they can understand a lot more than we think at this age.

Good luck!
Liz