4 Year old vacs - did you warn them what was going to happen before hand?

[PlonkeeMumma]

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!).

Thanks

Julie x

[Trillian]

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)

[myson]

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.

Just my opinion, but it worked for us.

[*Ang*]

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!!

[Captain]

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.

[Tobily]

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....

Ugh so not looking forward to this

[ll80]

I told my DD a few weeks before and kept reminding her about it or she would ask me questions about them,
She wanted to know if they would hurt, why she had to have them etc
I was completely honest and said yes they would hurt but only for a few seconds and then it would be okay.
We pinched each other so she could get a bit of an idea what it would be like etc. She would get upset about it sometimes and cry but the closer it got she didn't get upset at all.
On the day she was actually quite excited about it and was really good with it all.
As a special treat we went to a near by party shop and she chose some helium balloons, three of them i think and that totally made her day along with the purple bandaids the doctor put on her legs.

[Lukesmum]

We told DS the morning he was going in to have his. We explained what and why he was having it and told him it would sting a little but would stop stinging quickly after the needle comes out. He was so good when he had the needles. For us we always explain what is going to happen. DS had his tonsils and adenoids out in September and we explained everything to him so he knew what was happening. He would of been terrified if he didn't know and it was just done to him without him knowing beforehand. That's just what we do and it has helped him trust us. I just think of us as adults. I wouldn't like to be taken down the street for an outing and end up getting something done to me that hurts and I have no idea why they are hurting me. Everyone is different though.

[Dasharity]

my ds is due now, how many do they have to have and where do they put them

[Je$$_84]

I'm going through this at the moment. . .

We had a worrying rash few weeks back and when the Doc mentioned a needle to take some bloods DS took off and did laps around emergency at the hossy...

So i'm thinking discuss it before hand and then not on the day. maybe distract him with a toy or lolly????

My GP suggested to bring DP as he isnt the best behaved boy we may have to hold him down... ARRRGGGHHHH i'm worried he'll carry on... Bribary doesnt work much with him

[ll80]

my ds is due now, how many do they have to have and where do they put them

DD had two, one in each thigh

[Dasharity]

really, i was trying to get my head around convincing him to have one i dont know how were going to get through 2, it makes ne feel sick just thiking about it as i know that im going to have a battle on my hands

[Lukesmum]

DS had 2. One in each arm. Which hurts less. Arm or Thigh?

[ll80]

where ever there is more fat I guess would hurt less.
The two needles DD had in her thigh were at the same time, nurse did one leg, doctor did the other leg.
No way would she have coped with two, one after the other.

[SamiH]

My DS I didn't say anything until we got there - he was pretty good. Once over he stopped crying and happy just to cuddle etc.

However my DD is 4 next April and a REAL drama - I have no idea - she will need a straight jacket lol. I think it is worse cos they have the first one, and then have to have another one and know what to expect - eek.

Never underestimate the power of bribery .... She is already nagging for her ears to be pierced so maybe something very special might work - ha, but more pain she probably won't want them done then hehehehe - hey what a great plan cos I don't want her to have them done yet ...... hmmmmm ..anyway back on track

I like the idea of both at the same time - here they do it separately in each arm.

[AmandaJ]

I've been thru it twice and will be doing it again soon, I've chosen not to tell them that they are getting needles but I did tell them that they were going to the Drs, which they were ok with. BOth mine haven't worried to much about the needle and I always get them something special afterwards as a reward of sorts.

I hope that Oscar goes alright Julie, goodluck.

hugs xoxo

[PlonkeeMumma]

Thanks all for your response, it's great to get so many views and ideas.

I'm hedging towards telling him we're going to the drs (he'll like that bit) then telling him when we get there about the needles but will hopefully have something nice planned for afterwards so i can bang on about that to distract him from panicing.

Thanks Amanda,

Julie x