How to tackle 4yr old immunization experience...?

**nicoleE** · 06-09-2011 14:23

My DD is nearly 4 and needs to get her immunization needle soon. We have talked about them in the past as she has a 21 month old brother who has obviously needed them (I have never taken her when he ever went for his though as he is a screamer at needles and I didn't want to scare her!) and we have a book that touches the subject to. Trouble is she is petrified and if I even mention that we will need to get it soon she tears up. I told her we will go just us and if she is a brave girl we will go to the shops after for a special snack and little present to.... This did nothing to persuade her it's ok! I've tried explaining it is like a little ant bite and will only hurt a little bit and be over very quickly.
How have others handled this?
I know you can get Emla cream patches to numb the area, has anyone used these? Not sure if she would believe me that they will work anyway! I think the build up to it all is going to be worse than the actual needle! I can just imagine us holding her down kicking and screaming!! Helllp!!

**just her chameleon** · 06-09-2011 14:41

Maybe take her to the shop beforehand and buy her a special toy she can cuddle while she has her needle? A promise of ice-cream afterwards? Mmm tricky one!!

**nat84u** · 06-09-2011 15:02

I tried everything in the book to coax my DD into it. I ended up putting it off for so long that she needed to get them before she started school. I sat with her on my lap, held both my legs over her legs, and both my arms were wrapped round her arms and body so tightly they left marks. She kicked, screamed, thrashed around. It was one of the most awful experiences of probably both mine and her lives. I don't mean to be negative about it, but try everything you can before it gets to what we went through! The only thing she kind of listened to was that she's a "big girl now" so she needs her big girl needle to go to school.

Another idea, my friend went at the same time and had the cervical cancer vaccine which her DD watched first, then she was fine with her needle.

Oh and maybe you could get someone other than yourself to take her? She might be less inclined to chuck a hissy.

Oh, btw, after the needle was done my DD stopped screaming straight away and said "is that it?!"

Hope all goes smoothly for you both!

**Herchy** · 06-09-2011 15:55

Taking DS to get his done on Thursday. I've been telling him about 'immunisations' for a few months now, that the needle will go in his arm and stop him from getting very sick. I tell him it will hurt a tiny bit going in, but then it will feel totally fine. He is totally fine with it and has a smile on his face, no worries

He may be taking it a lot better because 2 months ago he had a short operation. That was the scariest thing that's happened to him and although at the time he totally freaked out, he realised that he was fine and it wasn't as bad as he though.

That's probably no help, but all the best with it!!

**tiggerfields** · 06-09-2011 16:37

This might work better with boys but may be worth a go.

With DS I spent a couple of days talking about the antibody armies inside him that battle germs and defeat them so he doesn't get sick. We talked about needles as special extra weapons for the army to make them super strong. We also looked at pics online of antibodies tackling viruses etc. and drew our own pictures of it.

He was so into it he actually wanted to go by the time the appointment came.

Good luck!

**Myztiks#1Fan** · 06-09-2011 17:01

I told coop that needles make him.feel better after previously being sick and we went and picked out a toy before hand which we got after needles.

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**Fuchsia!** · 06-09-2011 17:06

I use emla when i get needles and they definitely work, she will still feel a bit of sensation but it won't hurt.

It says to leave it on for 30mins but i found that wasn't enough time and i could still feel it, so i always leave my patch on for at least an hour. no longer then 2 though.

Good luck!

**UmmInayah** · 06-09-2011 18:46

I didn't tell my dd about them at all. They have a 4 year check and the doc did all that and then told her she had to have needles. I was a little disappointed she just outright told her before she even prepped them because my dd stresses about things like that, naturally. Anyway, she sat on my lap and I promised her a lollipop straight after they were done and she was fine!

Maybe don't mention it til the very last minute?