Do you tell DC they are going to get a shot?

nettie · September 2009

It's my son's 4 year check up today and I know he is going to get shots. It is in a couple hours so I don't want to tell him and have him get all worried yet, but do you tell your Dc once they get to the doctor's? I feel bad not telling him at all and then all of a sudden they spring it on him.... what do you do at this age?

KoriBrett · September 2009

DD is 3.5 and yes we tell her in the car on the way there. She doesn't mind, she loves the dr and never even flinches.

butterbeansmama · September 2009

I wouldn't unless he asked.

katie277s · September 2009

I am taking L to get his flu shot in 2 weeks and I'll tell him its a flu shot. Chances are, he won't know what I am talking about until we get there.

DandelionMom · September 2009

I tell them so they can bring a lovey. They're very good for shots so I don't think preparing them has done any harm.

KellyMichelle · September 2009

I usually tell him that morning. I explain everything the doctor will do so that is part of it. I don't tell him more than the day before because I don't want him to worry.

CleoKitty · September 2009

Yes. I let ds know pretty far in advance these days. For months he's been telling people, "I don't like shots, but when I turn 5 I have to go to the doctor and get one."

DevonPow · September 2009

I do - DS is only 2.5 but he understands. He also went with me to get my flu shot a few days before his, so got to watch me and see how I handled it. When he went in for his flu shot he yelled "I am here for my flu shot! It will hurt for a minute and I may cry, but then I will be OK!". He actually hates being weighed way more than shots, oddly enough.

Ciarrai · September 2009

I do tell my girls and always have. DD#2 doesn't understand really yet, but DD#1 does and has for over a year. I think the first shot I told her about that she understood was for last year's flu shot. She wasn't happy about it, but we all were getting one and she did really well with it. DD#1 does not do well with surprises or anything unexpected/changes. She's the one who had a meltdown at swimming lessons when her teacher was out sick and they had a sub even though she loves swimming and the lessons... She will never be a "surprise party" type person. She does fine with most situations as long as we talk about it beforehand...a lot. So we do the same with shots as anything else. She doesn't like them but understands we all have to get them and gets them without arguing...much.

hopefulmom · September 2009

Never ever told my kids and they never ever had a problem getting shots. I've worked in family practice and urgent care and I hate it when people have told their kids they are going to be getting a shot. The kids are crying when they come in the door. I'm sure the person sitting there with a migraine or high fever or nausea just loves hearing the crying going on and on and on. Once in the room it takes 3 people (sometimes more) to hold the kid down and even then it takes a good 10 minutes just to administer the shot. We are talking flu shots so they are TINY needles. One nurse just tells them that if they don't sit still then they will just have to poke them more times (can't leave a needle in a kid that is withering all over the table, kicking, flaying arms about, etc. It usually works too (surprised more of the nurses did say that!). lol

maxebook29 · September 2009

DandelionMom:
I tell them so they can bring a lovey. They're very good for shots so I don't think preparing them has done any harm.

This. DD just had her flu shot about an hour ago. I told her as we were leaving the house and told her she could bring her dolly. She seems to get less upset when she knows exactly what is going to happen.

Yodajo · September 2009

Yes, I do. My DS does better when he knows what to expect. I also tell him when his brother is going to get a shot (or pokey poke as he calls it) because those bother him too and he gets less upset when he is expecting it.

becoming_untied · September 2009

Yes!

My DD needed to get a shot and the nurse didn't even give me a chance to tell her before she stuck her. The suprise pain was way worse for her and she didn't understand what was going on.

It took everything in me to not lay that nurse out on the ground with one punch!

So, yes, I do believe in telling my children. It is better for them to know shortly before the appointment. I know I wouldn't want to just get jabbed by a needle without knowing. I think they deserve the same respect.

marchbaby · September 2009

My four year old had his flu shot this morning. I told him this morning when he woke up that we had to get ready to go to the doctors. When he asked why I said he needed a flu shot so he wouldn't get sick. He was fine with it.

ilovemygirls · September 2009

Yes. I tell them ahead of time, they get to bring their special 'lovey' and pick out a treat for immediately after the shot. I think it depends on your child too. If you have a real worry wart, then probably that morning or in the car on the way there would be good. My kids don't tend to 'worry' about it so much- my (almost) 5yo always asks if it's going to hurt & I tell her yes, for just a moment- and then we move on. I usually bring it up the week we're doing shots.

MoonAmor321 · September 2009

I actually JUST went through this last week. I told my son what we were going for. I just talked it down.. and boosted his ego. I told he we had to go to the dr to get some shots.. But that it's just gonna be a little poke, real quick and then we will be done. I asked him "you're tough right?" and he got all pumped up.. "yeah!" And of course he said he didn't want to get them, but I explained that everyone has to get shots so they don't get bad bad sick and have to go to the hospital. Luckily he is not the one to be sick. I think he's been sick a mere 3-4 times puking.. And nothign that lasted over a day. So I was able to say "well you have never been bad sick have you?" and he responded "no".. and i said "See.. thats because you got your shots when you were younger and so now you have to get a few more so you dont get sick later".. and he was all cool about it. We went in there.. He had to get 3 shots. The nurse was nice enough to keep the shot that stunk until last. They put two shots in one arm.. and he barely even flinched. (I made sure to have my cell phone with me to show him pictures while they were doing it to help distract him).. then they went to do the third one.. which he was still fine with. but that one stung like a bee sting they said and he did pull away and cried for a few minutes. But within 5 minutes he was good.

I actually think a big help was that I was due for my tetnus shot so after he got his shots I was like "ok, mommy has to get some now".. and I asked him if I could sit on his lap.. and laughed about it. And so he got to see that mommy was ok with it.. So he was all good.

I say at least give them a warning.. i didn't want to tell my son nothing was going to happen and then BAM.. 3 shots in his arms with no warning..he probably would have hated to ever go back!

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