How to Make Immunizations Less Traumatic for a Child

If your child is overcome by fear whenever you visit the pediatrician's office, or if he reacts to shots with violent tantrums, you may be tempted to skip immunizations altogether. But immunizing your child is not only necessary and mandated by the state, it is also one of the most important ways to ensure that he stays safe, healthy and defended against potentially crippling childhood diseases. Staying away from the doctor may not be an option, but there are a few things you can do to lessen your child's anxieties and keep his attitude toward doctor visits positive. Here are some suggestions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lollipop
• Library book
• Doll or stuffed animal
• Play doctor kit
• Stickers

1. Explain the concept of immunization a day or two before taking her to the doctor's office for a shot. Without emphasizing the shot part, be sure she understands the need for protection against life-threatening diseases, and reiterate several times how lucky she is to live in a time when most serious childhood diseases can be prevented by a simple shot.
   
   For toddlers, don't mention the shot at all. Just let them know they will be seeing their doctor and that if they are good, they will get a lollipop or sticker at the end of the visit. When they get inside the examination room, praise them for being such a 'big" kid and being brave while the doctor performs the exam. When the big moment arrives, make light of it, get it over quickly, and after a brief hug use your cheeriest voice to point out that it's all done now. Then hand them a sticker or lollipop, and leave the office as quickly as possible, saying, "See? That wasn't so bad. Now you're safe and won't get sick! What a brave person you are. I'm proud of you!"

2. A split second before your child receives his shot, stick something sweet in his mouth. For infants, a binky soaked in glucose solution is good. For toddlers and older children, a lollipop works great. The point is to release endorphins at the very moment that the needle should be causing pain. If you time it right, you can cancel out the worst of the pinch with sugary bliss. Mary Poppins was right ... a spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down, even in shot form.

3. Buy your child a pretend doctor's kit, and be the patient as she checks your heart, nose, ears and throat. Tell her to please give you a shot so that you can stay well, and after a tiny "Ouch," smile and say, "That wasn't so bad. Can I have my lollipop now, please?" Be sure to thank your little doctor for the shot and for keeping you safe and healthy.

4. Check out a book about doctor visits in the children's section of your local library. Read this with your child several times before the "big" day, and make sure he understands the concept behind immunizations, at least in a basic way. The point to emphasize is that the doctor is his friend and wants to keep him safe from illness. Let your child bring this book to the office visit, and remind him just before the shot that the character in the book had one, too, and was just fine after the little pinch.

5. Let your child bring her favorite stuffed animal or doll to the doctor visit, and ask the pediatrician to perform the exam on the lovey as well. Encourage your child to kiss the "boo boo" after the doctor gives a pretend shot to the doll, and you be the 'boo boo" kisser when it is your child's turn.
   
   Or, have your child play doctor with the doll during the exam, and let her give the shot to her "baby" to keep her well. Tell her that she will have to show her dolly how to be brave so that dolly won't cry, and let her give her little friend a sticker for being brave.

Tips & Warnings

• If you tend to be squeamish about shots yourself, you may be inadvertently projecting your own fears onto your child at immunization time. Make sure to calm yourself before each pediatric visit by taking a few deep breaths, focusing on the potential good the shot will do and letting go of any negative notions you may have in advance of the shot. Find out all you can about your child's immunization well ahead of the office visit, and deal with your own fears first before bringing your child in for the shots.
• Be sure to keep your child's immunizations current. Even common childhood diseases such as measles and the mumps can be life-threatening or cause serious complications and permanent damage to your child's body. Educate yourself on the importance of proper immunizations as well as the potential side effects, but don't take unnecessary risks with your child''s health by ignoring the state recommendations for preventative shots.

Resources

• More Tips on Keeping Your Child Calm During Immunizations.

[tammymckillip]

on 9/7/2009 an old one, but useful