Is Your Child Afraid of Injection?
Not young anymore but at my age, I still fear needles. I can't still look at it with a happy heart. And I can understand my children being afraid of shots.
Jigz and Tia had an appointment yesterday at the Kid's Hospital to get their test done to keep up with their health records. After school, we picked them up and went straight ahead.
Words matter
I only tell Tia, we will see the Doctor for a test and a pinch in her arm (while pinching her gently). But never worry it only feels as if our cat scratches her then she'll not feel it after. That's what I said. I want to condition her body and mind so she will not be running when she sees the nurse with a needle in her hand.
We went to reception and told us to wait in the waiting area. This is more of a warm-up place to take the kid's mind off the injection.
Tia and Jigz have been into this place and the same setting many times and I know I cannot fool them, especially Tia. She knows what's going to happen.
Children associate needles with pain.
The many vaccines they've got and how they made them feel. The pain of every shot traumatized them. They have no trypanophobia but a normal fear of needles/injection. Jigz is still afraid of it. He doesn't even want to come.
I know parents that you can relate to this.
Since they were born they got injected with many vaccines we can no more count on our hands. The list goes on. Those visits to clinics since they were a baby hurts us too when they cry because we know it's sore. It's quite emotional and heartbreaking. We know how they feel.
There they are playing before the exciting part. And as soon as the two lovely ladies called us the mood changed but the nurses know how to break the ice. We had a question and answer portion first.
And the time has come and I told Tia,
"You're strong. You're brave."
She smiled and say yes.
Jigz begs the nurse he doesn't want to be first lol and so my brave Tia did. She was hesitant to sit and so I call her to sit on my knee instead. The nurse is okay with that.
I'm trying to distract Tia while they taking the needle out but I can see it at the side of my eyes and even I couldn't look at it. Tia accidentally took a peek and saw the needle wants to jump off my lap.
The other nurse started asking her question to get her mind off and me holding her right. My hands cover her side face not to see what's going on.
And you can see her facial expression when she got the injection. And she started crying out loud after. Didn't take long till she calm herself and a sticker did the job of cheering her up.
The nurse draws a cat around the shot. Which I think is good at diverting the shock. And she said,
"I can draw a cat too!"
And they got a good conversation after.
I gave her a high five and told her how brave she was. I don't want her to be scared everytime we go to hospital or clinic. And I don't want them to think that nurses are bad for injecting her and conflicting pain.
Jigz takes it like a man and gets over it. He just wants a sticker lol.
Then we went to the shop and get Jigz football shoes and new black shoes for school. After one month his shoes need tender loving care. And Tia got new boots that she chose. Everybody is happy.
As soon as we get home she ran to Lola to show her arm. And told her that it was sore and that she cried.
Lola gave her a big kiss and hug and told her she had done a good job!
They will be back on Thursday. Wish them luck!
Is your child afraid of injections too? How do you handle it?
And I know memories bring back memories of when we got our covid and booster shots. Did you enjoy it? I don't. 🤣
Thank you for reading.
Some children withstand the needles than most adult.