4 Year old vacs - did you warn them what was going to happen before hand?
Hi
My oldest is 4 at the end of the month so he's due for his vaccinations. Obviously it's different than when he last had them at 18 months as he can speak and understand everything!
So i was wondering should i explain what is going to happen to him before we go and get to to understand why - risking him being worried and scared, or do i just take him and get it done - but then i feel sneaky!!!! Would like to know what others have done and how it worked for them and if they thought they'd made the right decision.
Oscar's a bit sensitive and a bit of a woose (so am i so no disrespect to him!).
I did and it was awful because as soon as we were called in he just totally freaked out and it was on for young and old. But not telling them can be just as bad because they still freak out once they realise what's going on (I did it both ways LOL and neither was pleasant - it was much nicer with my now 4yo dd cause I didn't take her at all)
I would wait until the morning of the needles, just mention it casually in passing and then tell him all about the wonderful treat/outing you are going on after. Tell him but just play it down like its no big deal and be super enthusiastic about the bribery to come!!! Telling too far ahead of time will give him too much time to begin stressing and getting worked up.
I chose not to tell Gabriella but that is because she is a worrier and we thought she would work herself up into a state over it...not that is mattered in the end because once we did tell her in the waiting room she went pyshco. Was actually quite funny really, DH and I were trying not to laugh whilst she was trying to escape!!
I agree with Myson. Just mention it casually and then focus on what will happen afterwards. When they are about to do the needles, tell him that it might sting abit but it wont last. I don't think you should say it wont hurt when it will!
It's not going to be pleasent which ever way you go, so good luck.
Watching with interest....ours are coming up soon too and I'm bad enough with the baby ones - god knows how I'm going to cope when she knows what's happening
I'm tending towards not telling her until the day because my DD is another one who will work herself up if she gets enough lead time....
4 Year old vacs - did you warn them what was going to happen before hand?
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Telling too far ahead of time will give him too much time to begin stressing and getting worked up.
Was actually quite funny really, DH and I were trying not to laugh whilst she was trying to escape!!
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