It’s still a way off for DD(4), but I plan to bring a little ice pack for her to put on her arm while we’re there waiting for her shot. We went to a minute clinic for her flu shot this year and they gave her one while they processed paperwork, and she did SO SO great. She’s normally a basket case about shots, but the nurse explained to her “ice packs help when you get an ouchie right? Well you’re having an ice pack now so you don’t get an ouchie from the shot”. It really made her much less afraid about it hurting - I don’t know why I never thought of that before and why no one has ever offered it before, but bless that woman!
Post by bookqueen15 on Oct 23, 2021 15:27:28 GMT -5
Our pediatrician's office does evening flu shot clinics at the office, so I am hoping they'll also do that for the COVID vaccines too. They did have the COVID vaccine available at the office for 12 and up. My kids are difficult about shots, but they do much better at the pediatrician's office with the nurses who are very used to kids.
As someone who gives kid shots regularly, I appreciate it when parents and/or caregivers are willing to help restrain their children to get shots done. Also, it does help talking to them a lot beforehand and letting them ask questions. I tell kids having a hard time that it’s my job to make sure they’re safe when getting vaccinated, and if they can’t hold still we will need to hold them down.
My 10 y-o DD screamed in my face while getting her shot, so it’s not like my kids do much better. DS did well enough, he got distracted enough to not notice.
Thank you for saying this. I had to do this when DD1 (6.5) got her flu shot and I felt like a terrible parent for forcing her to do it when she was so upset. The nurse was really nice about it but I felt awful for her too. We talked about it a lot ahead of time, I promised her a treat after, had her little sister (3) go first since she didn’t want to. She calmed down pretty fast afterwards (within 5-10 mins, she had to kind of cry it out). I think its the anticipation that makes her so upset. I’m worried about getting her Covid shots. Any other advice? Or just keep forcing her to do it even though it sucks?
If she’s older, you might just have to do what you need to do to get it done. My worst shots are the 11-14 year olds. It’s something about their brain chemistry at that age that just makes them completely unreasonable. The younger kids are easily distracted most of the time, so they’re better.
Thank you for saying this. I had to do this when DD1 (6.5) got her flu shot and I felt like a terrible parent for forcing her to do it when she was so upset. The nurse was really nice about it but I felt awful for her too. We talked about it a lot ahead of time, I promised her a treat after, had her little sister (3) go first since she didn’t want to. She calmed down pretty fast afterwards (within 5-10 mins, she had to kind of cry it out). I think its the anticipation that makes her so upset. I’m worried about getting her Covid shots. Any other advice? Or just keep forcing her to do it even though it sucks?
If she’s older, you might just have to do what you need to do to get it done. My worst shots are the 11-14 year olds. It’s something about their brain chemistry at that age that just makes them completely unreasonable. The younger kids are easily distracted most of the time, so they’re better.
As the mom of a 13 year old, bless you. I am so embarrassed when we take him for shots. His covid vaccine was at the pediatrician and the nurses there just know how he is, and the nurse held him to her side (standing) and let him moan and was like I get it, I know, I get it and then finally just did it, while he was complaining. She is a saint.
WellI had to hold my 5 year old down for her 3 shots so not sure she will be so enthusiastic about her covid shot 🤦🏼♀️
My 6 year old screamed bloody murder when they tried to give him the flu shot, but our pediatrician has a drive-thru clinic - he could only fight so much while strapped in the car seat. He got jabbed and we drove off. More places should do that! Last year, my SIL took my then-almost 5 year old nephew to a Walgreens ir CVS or something to get his flu shot, and he freaked out and ran off around the store. The store clerks had to help her catch him. Nightmare!
The promise of ice cream after goes a long way with my kids. The younger one has never been bothered by shots, but my oldest had a lot of anxiety about them. We’d sit there and talk about the flavors while the shot prep was happening, sometimes she still cried, but it helped to have something to look forward to.
I also learned to ask if we were going to have any/how many shots at an appointment (some years it was just a flu mist) so that I could prep them. For some reason they’d get mad if I prepared them and there wasn’t a shot, and equally mad if there was one we weren’t expecting.
Post by karinothing on Oct 25, 2021 5:44:35 GMT -5
@hiphopanonymous, so sorry about that. Maybe try the pediatrician office? Or I know that our walgreens give the shots in a private room. You may also be able to talk to your pediatrician about prescribing a mild short acting anti anxiety medication or talk to your Dr about the possible use of Dramamine to reduce anxiety in these situations.
DD1 has an awful blood/injury/injection phobia (to the point where she had to be under general anesthesia for her last dental appointment and the pedi had us bring her to a separate well child appointment at 11 because she has such a huge panic attack with vaccines, even with Lexapro and xanax). What finally helped (besides years of therapy and meds) was EMLA numbing cream, a regular "shot blocker" that the pedi had, and a Buzzy shot blocker (ice and vibration). So if anyone needs ideas for shot-hesitant children, try those. I'm kind of annoyed that the pedi didn't bring up the EMLA cream and the shot blocker they have in the office the first time DD1 ran away from a vaccine appointment.