Next week DS1 is booked in for the 4 yr old immunisation.

I am not looking forward to this! I have been told there are 2 needles. Is this correct? How has your child reacted to the whole process?

I stopped bringing DS1 to DS2's immunisations after the 4 mth one. He watched but had no reaction to seeing the 2 mth imm. However, he got very upset at DS2's 4 mth one, so much so that in the end I had to hold and comfort him while the nurses held DS2 for his needles. So, that was over a year ago now, and I'm not sure if DS1 remembers. (don't want to remind him!)

Anyway, I'd like any advice you have about how you prepped your LO for it and how you managed it if they got upset during the process. DH will be coming with me for this one.

Well, DD's are tomorrow!!! I am going to do what we did with my older child. I have told her we are visiting the Drs tomorrow. I haven't said anything about the needles. There's no point in her getting anxious about them.

I know we'll get the Dr visit, weigh, measure etc and while the nurse is getting the needles, I'm going to tell her what is about to happen.

Short and sweet.

Mine all took the 4 year olds quite well.

I explained to them that they would be having needles, and explained why. I told them that it would hurt a bit for a short time but it wouldn't last long. I explained what they could expect to happen when we went.

DS1 and DS2 both had a bit of a cry, but they had the needles one after the other, and cried on the second one. DS3 had both needles at the same time and didn't cry at all. No hysteria fromany of them though.

I think you need to prepare them calmly and give them the facts in a non-frightening way. Don't make a big deal of it in any way.

There was a thread on this last week which had some good replies:
http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/ind...howtopic=885962

My GP called the nurse in so they could each stick in a needle at the same time. DS knew he was there to have needles and that it would only hurt for a few seconds and that he'd get a lolly afterwards.

We also explained that the needles were to stop him getting sick. He was fine.

This is what we did - well actually dh did because I chicken out and let dh take him. He didn't even cry! I asked him if it hurt, and he said NO! I couldn't believe how brave he was. He is quite sooky about going to the doctors and having him look in his ears/mouth/etc when sick. It may have helped the nurse offered him a lolly afterwards, and dh promised him a treat too. Good luck!

DD1 I explained what we were doing and was completly honest about it, though she really did not understand. Yes she was upset which was so hard as she had never cried much as a baby at needles.

DD2 I also was honest and promised something that I knew she wanted.. I was nothing about being brave or not crying just when it is done we are going to the shop to buy it.. She wanted to go that day.. also a little sad but immediately forgot about it and wanted to go shopping for the toy(which I had ready to give her)

they both had the flu needle a bit later and DD1 was more difficult than dd2..

dd didn't get told a single thing. I knew if i told her we would be in for a fight to get her there.

Sadly the poor darling knew what needles were all about after we had to treat anaemia on her and with that she required alot of blood tests and not all were done by good technicians. So she has developed a phobia of them.

Good thing we didn't tell her. The nurse got all the stuff ready while we were outside the room and then dh and I took her in. She took 1 look at the nurse and went ballistic. I had to hold her down just for her to get it.

DS also got his immunisations that day and had his done after dd and he just looked up at me and went lollipop now mummy. Not phased by the needle at all. The nurse had expected more fuss from 18mth old ds then 4yr old dd and it was the opposite.

As someone who regularly gives needles to kids, 4 year olds are smarter and braver than you think, are easily distractible, and the needles seriously barely hurt so you won't have to prepare them for much pain, so don't make a big deal of it before hand. They feed off your anxiety, if mum's crying you know its going to be bad (and this does happen!) If your kid likes books Elmo's going to the Doctor is brilliant! During distract them with a song or bubbles and give them a job to do(hold the bandaid) so they feel important. I think the royal children's hospital website has a really good factsheet for preparing kids for procedures. www.rch.org.au Good luck!

My 4 year old had his last week - he was told prior that he was going to have a needle. He was told he could look away or watch and he chose to watch and didn't make a noise - he was pretty proud of himself!

All kids are different - mine would have freaked if I had sprung it on him at the last minute - he likes all the information up front. We did explain that it may hurt but that it was so he didn't get sick and he didn't make anyone else sick (lots of new babies in the family).

Good luck!

I always took DS to be immunised, even though I hate them.
I am terrified of needles and a lot of things medical and I think this fear was instilled from my mum.
DS is fine. I usually took him to the shop for a treat afterwards which worked brilliantly but he never really needed it, he's just not fussed.

If you are worried that he will react badly, I would not be telling him until you were there. No point creating extra anxiety for him than is needed.

DD loves medical stuff and has always been fascinated by her bro getting needles. She did not cry at all, and was more upset when I made her take the bandaids off her arms several days after the needles. As PP already said, they can give the needles at the same time and the nurses are used to doing it and distracting it.

thanks for all the replies. DH did tell him yesterday that he would be going to the doctor this week and DS1's response was a loud "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE DOCTOR".... so not a good start . oh well I'll have a little chat with him this afternoon about going and a bit about what to expect.

We told DS1 (that day) we were going to the Dr to get some needles which would ensure he would not get really sick. The needles would hurt for a moment but would be OK. Afterwards I promised at trip to the shops for a Donut.

Dr and Nurse each gave an injection simultaneously.

DS1 just looked indignant and it was quickly over. No tears.

As I was such a horrid mum, that day I organised for blood tests for DS1 too and even when they took 4 goes to find a vein he was a brave boy who did not cry but just had a tear running down his face saying 'mummy that hurts' when they were up to the 4th attempt to get a vein.

DD#1 had hers about 6 months ago. She had been going to get DD#2's shots with me. I had heard that others don't even tell their kids what will happen. They just take them & get it over with quickly.
I thought it was better to be honest with DD#1. I talked to her about how DD#2 gets her needles and that she'd get one too next time. I told her it's so she doesn't get sick and that it would only hurt a tiny bit. And that she'd get a lolly after.
DD#1 was great. The shots are done at the same time (one nurse on each arm), they got DD to close her eyes & count to 3. It was over in 3 secs and DD#1 didn't cry at all. In fact right after she found some kids to play with and just happily ran around the room.

I hope it'll go much better than expected for you too!!

I don't think you really can prepare them very well.

I told DD she was getting them done - I didn't want her to question everywhere we went afterwards fearing she'd be getting tricked into have needles again - and she just whinged and carried on.

She did the same upon getting her needles, obviously.

She cried. She lived.

sums up my experience. I don't see the point of lying or covering up what you're doing, otherwise your kid will just assume every trip to the doctor is going to include secret needles. She was pretty much fine up until the point of it actually happening and then she cried and squirmed a lot but it got done and she got over it.

(this is DD2. DD1 I honestly don't remember, it was light years ago... bahahahaha also she was just so different to DD2 who can be a little OTT)

Update : We had the vaccinations today and things went very smoothly. She asked me why we were seeing the doctor and I just said "We're just going to have a chat to doctor Paul". I didn't forewarn her of the vaccinations otherwise she would have just stressed.

We went in, chatted, the dr asked me if she knew what was coming up. I shook my head. He explained to her that she has to have a special medicine, called an injection, into her arms and it would sting a little. We walked to the nurses office who did a weigh and measure. Then the injections happened. DD cried for about 10seconds then she ate the easter egg I'd brought for her.

Great to hear it went so well, sometimes I think we as parents worry more than the child lol

I was totally terrified about how my DS would react with his 4yr old needles as he is quite an emotional type of child and scared of things.

I was sooooo amazed that he didnt even bat an eyelid at any of it. He even looked as it happened. I was willing to buy him something for being so brave and when I asked him what he wanted he was happy with a lollypop!

They gave him a bravery certificate as well and he was as proud as punch!

For all injections and ear piercings we use EMLA cream from the chemist 1 hour before due to get needles and also they get a treat to take with them for afterwards usually a choc helps with the pain.

We don't usually have any problems since we use this method. Even my 9yr old DS who ran away and clung to the pole last year for his flu shot was excellent this year.

Also if you are getting more than 1 child done at a time do the bravest last and the chickens done first and on short notice is better I have found gives them less time to think about it.

I told my DD1 the truth and she was prepared for it. Still nervous, shed a tear, but was fine. Now she asks each time we go to the doc will there be vaccination needles. And like a PP was more concerned with the bandaids coming off, oh and was a little protective of her arm for a few days "Mum, please tell DD2 and the dog they can't touch my arm as it hurts a little". LOL Today, I had my flu shot and I showed her my bandaid and she asked if I was brave like her and did it hurt for a bit?

Just thought I'd update what happened. the night before, DS and I had a little practice run with one of those medicine syringes. We took turns giving each other our shots and a little pinch for the sting. Also DH promised to buy him a toy afterwards. So he was quite happy to go in. The nurse told him what was going to happen and he was very good. Even though he got quite a shock from the first needle (I think it hurt more than he expected) and so he was very tense for the second one. He didn't cry until about 5 minutes afterwards, and then he didn't stop crying for about half an hour. His arm was sore (from the 2nd injection) I think because he tensed up to much. Anyway, DH bought him a lovely toy and he's been happy as larry since. His arm was sore for a couple of days. Anyway, it went more how I hope it would go and nowhere near as bad as I half anticipated. thanks for all the advice

I've got my twin DD's getting theirs next week. The tricky part for us will be working out which one will go first!

We haven't told them about it yet, but I figure i'll just be honest with them. Definitely not looking forward to it though.