questions about the 4yr immunisation

[heliana]

Hi,
it seems dd is overdue for her 4yr immunisation. We'll go and get it done next week, but I feel really apprehensive about it.
I think because she's older now, and its been so long since the last ones.
so just wondering how did your kids go for the 4yr injections?
are the in the arm or the leg?
does anyone have any suggestions about how I could talk to her about it to prepare her.
Thanks.

[nic]

My DD is now 10, so it's been awhile since she had her 4yr imms. I also don't know how they have changed since then? but she did have 1 jab in each arm. The nurse made a note of which immunisation she was given in each arm, which was a fantastic idea, as later on she ended up swelling up HUGE in one arm, which resulted in a visit back to the hospital where I was greeted with every nurse (little country hospital) coming to see her how blown up her arm was. I was later told that they get the same vacc's at 16? so i need to make note of what she had the reaction too.
We told her that she was getting some needles that meant she would be able to start school the following year. She was fine till she saw the needles come out.
Like I said, it was a while ago that DD had hers, so I don't know how different they are now, if they are 1 or 2 injections etc...someone else will hopefully come in and let you know.

[heliana]

Eeek!

[nic]

Oh No..Didn't mean to scare you Heliana

[Purple Penguin]

my 4 y.o had her injections last year, it's 1 in each arm and she handled it really well, i just explained to her what was going to happen and that it might hurt a little, she was fine, no reactions or anything

[heliana]

lol, thank you both
I am a wee tiny bit funny about needles which I'm trying not to pass on to my dd.
for some reason I can handle in the leg a lot better than in the arm. I'm doing better than my mum though who passes out at the sight of a needle.
anyway, I will suck it up, and my daughter can have an icecream afterwards n I will have a beer lol.

[mbear]

Heliana...my DD#2 had her injection last Tuesday, and the nurse asked whether she wanted it in the arm or the thigh....... She chose the thigh. Lots of screaming, and yelling, but a beanie kid bear and a choc. milkshake soon dried those tears...

GL !

[~Kim~]

Thanks for asking Heliana, I've been meaning to ask the same things.
Hope your DD goes OK.
My DH is the same with needles, hence mummy always has to go.

[~Trish~]

Have you taken your daughter yet Heliana?

My DS1 had his 4 year immunisations about 18 months ago. I just explained to him what was going to happen and told him I'd buy him an ice cream afterwards. He was so excited about getting needles LOL! He loves going to the Dr, etc. so it was not at all traumatic for him. He didn't even flinch when they jabbed him, he thought it was a great experience . He really didn't need an ice cream to cheer him up afterwards, but we still got one because I promised him!

[~clover~]

My DD1 had a reaction to hers as well. Nothing major, her arm got hot & red & was swollen. The health nurse who gave it to her lived across the road from me, so I just went & knocked on her door to ask about it. She said it is common with the 4 year ones, but she was fine after about 2 days. It didn't bother her as much as it bothered me.
DD2 is yet to have hers done. She is terrified of needles after a hospital stay last year, so not sure how we'll go yet... They should've been done 10 months ago.