by Words of Art

Created on: January 08, 2008

I will never forget it. My daughter was 3 weeks old and had to have her blood drawn. I laid her on the table and the lab tech tied a tiny tourniquet around her little leg. She gazed trustingly into my eyes as her heel was swabbed with alcohol and then. . .OW! The look of betrayal in her eyes was heartbreaking. She was crying, I was crying and I think the lab tech even teared up. . .and thus began the childhood adventure of needles and shots.

As parents, we all know the importance of vaccinating our kids, but that doesn't take the emotion out of it. We hate to see our little ones experience any kind of pain, emotional or physical. As babies become toddlers become big kids, they start to hate the prospect of needles themselves. I have found a few tips that make "shot time" a little less scary for my own kids.

1. For babies, there really isn't much you can do to prepare them for the experience. Sit them on your lap with their back to you. This gives the nurse clear access to their thigh and gives you the optimum position to restrain little hands so they don't grab the needle. Once the deed is done, try nursing them for comfort or make sure you have a pacifier handy. Keep in mind that they made need a few minutes to "cool down" before you leave the doctor's office.

2. Once your child is old enough to understand, don't wait until you're sitting in the doctor's waiting room to break the news. When you're getting in the car to leave for the appointment, start talking about the whole experience in a non-threatening manner. Make sure you include the part about a sticker or a sucker when everything is done so they have something to look forward to.

3. Don't lie to your child. You need to tell them that it is going to hurt for a minute and then it will feel better. Tell them it's okay to cry because it hurts but it's very important to sit still. Don't make their "bravery reward" conditional on how they react to the shot. They need to feel free to express their emotions and not come to associate shots with punishment. It's a scary enough experience for kids all on its own.

4. If your child has a blankie or other lovey, make sure you bring it with you to the doctor appointment. This will make them feel secure and offer the chance for self-soothing when they get upset.

5. Don't make the doctor or nurse look like the "bad guy". This might work the first time so your kids aren't mad at you but what about the next time you need to take them in? Talk about the shot like it's something you and the doctor both want. "We want to make sure you get your shots so you won't get sick later."

Keep in mind that how your child reacts to shots and needles in childhood will largely depend on his or her personality. If you find something that really helps the first time you go in, make sure to write it down for the next time. Don't be too hard on yourself if you have a bad experience. Kids will be kids; our job is to be there when they need us.

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