4 year old vaccinations

[kitten2b]

DD1 turned 4 last week thus is due to have her immunisations. Just wondering how people prepared their 4 year olds for the needles. I am worried that if we just go to the Drs surgery and get them done with no prior preparation she will never want to go back to our family GP or any other Dr, then again if we tell her what is happening she wont get in the door.

[Trillian]

it is a tough one. With my first two I timed it so that the younger ones were having needles at the same time and did the whole "this will stop you from getting sick" line, but I don't think there is really much more you can do kwim? At that age they are usually old enough to understand if you explain it to them. Perhaps even take her to your GP and have him talk to her about it first?

[Liz]

DS has a pretty good relationship with our GP, so I don't think needles will destroy that relationship. Plus it's the nurse that administers the needles anyway... he can hate her if he likes LOL.

I think I'll probably just tell him the day before or something and then use a LOT of bribery hahah. Chocolates, icecream, his choice from the bakery... whatever will work at the time hehe.

Hope it all goes smoothly for you! How many needles is it? I haven't looked at it yet, he's not 4 til next year.

[aussienic]

I had to take Jacob to the Dr's last week and she was pushing me to get the needles done already I said the end of the month (put it off as long as possible

I am going to talk to him about it a couple days before but he is so stubborn i wonder if thats a good idea and maybe just talk to him about it just before we go..

good luck with yours. I find the 4yr old ones are the worst . Ethan just cried and looked at me like why was I not stopping this lady from hurting him. Isaac wasn't to bad but he still cried and told me he didn't like me afterwards

[bon]

I just explained to mine that they were going to the doctor to have a needle and that it is to stop them getting sick from certain diseases. I told them it would hurt a little bit but not too much, and it would be over very quickly. They were both really good when it came to getting it done, and they got a lollipop from the doctor and heaps of praise from me about how brave they were etc etc.

[mbear]

When my DD#1 got hers done i got DH to take her (i couldnt bare to see her cry...). She was suprisingly good. You will find the 4yr old vacc brings the 'best' out in the nurse/GP that is giving it. Our nurse explained to us the 4yr old vacc are the 'worst' for them too - so lots of coaxing, lots of encouragement...and lots of bribery was evident.

I also used the 'you can go to big school if you get the needles...'.

Our GP gave her a mcdonalds voucher too - and a heap of stickers and a badge, all proclaiming what a brave girl she was.....