4 Year Old and Needles

Well sorry you have to go through it. But she will just have to scream it out. They will have you hold her down since she will probably flail her arms and legs.
I still don't like needles.

1) Ask for a "butterfly needle." It is a smaller needle.... for kids/adults. Even my Dad would request that. I do too, myself. And for my kids.

2) When she gets the shot... bring a horn or harmonica or whistle with you. Tell the nurse, to count to three. JUST when she says "three...." RIGHT at that moment... have your daughter BLOW like crazy on the horn/harmonica/whistle... it will distract her from the pain of the injection and the process. And then it will be over.

3) You can also request, that they put on a topical 'numbing' cream. My Dad requested that too, and I did when I got an IV when I gave birth.

4) Have her look AT you... and not the Nurse, while you talk to her and distract her.

These are the tricks, I use.

all the best,
Susan

Before I was a mother I hated needles and sometimes fainted when I gave blood. I did not want my children to have that fear so I have made a conscious effort to change my attitude and also take my two-year-old son to the lab with me when I get shots/give blood. I always tell him that it keeps me healthy and is no big deal. I also make sure that my nonverbal communication/body language shows him that I am relaxed. I model how I want him to react, and he is much calmer for his appointments.

Your daughter is old enough that you can also give her choices that help her gain control of the situation (i.e. which arm, tell me when you are ready, choose which sticker, etc.) Right before she is stuck with the needle, have her visualize and talk about (describe in detail) being in a different place, such as the park or yogurt shop. It will probably be over before she is done talking.

I was your daughter once :) All the pediatric nurses had to come in and hold me down when it was shot time. Flash forward, what works for me is that I NEVER look at the needle once the nurse enters the room w/ the tray. I look the other way and actually close my eyes when it's time. I have a 5-year-old daughter and I explained how mommy hated needles, too, and told her how I had to be held down as a kid. Then I told her how I got over it, by not looking and keeping your body loose and relaxed. Now she does the same thing (closes her eyes, relaxes) and voila! No more problems. Try it! And good luck!

Rational arguments don't work particularly well to control fear, because it's not a rational experience, it's emotional. Working with the emotional component can make a greater difference, though. My daughter was terrified of needles until she was well into her teens. I learned early that if I tried to talk her out of her terror, it only made her more frightened. She knew those needles hurt, and there was no way I could deny that and have her still trust me. I finally just empathized with her, acknowledged how scary it was for her.

Being taken seriously actually calmed her a bit, at which point we could talk about what coping techniques SHE would use if a needle was needed. She was still scared, but somehow held it together for however long she had to. And when she was little, she'd still cry during and after. But somehow, she found her own internal resources to cooperate with the nurse with the needle.

I don't remember how young she was when I stumbled onto this approach. I've since discovered that this is one of the problem-solving techniques suggested in the practical and effective book, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Faber and Mazlish. I highly recommend this book for its wise approach to all sorts of parenting challenges.

Make sure none of the "untesils" are in sight. Have all the people in the room to be chatting about other, exciting things that would be interesting and distracting to your daughter. I still have them do that for me to this day. If everyone is talking I dont let my mind wander to what they are actually doing to me ;) works like a charm.

I always told our daughter, "look at me", when they were going to give the shot. I would also distract her with a joke or be talking about something funny while they prepped. her.. I also told her what my mom had always told me.. "The more you relax, the less it will hurt". When our daughter was about 5, she finally was able to relax and the first thing she said was, "you were right, it does not hurt when you relax!"

Not sure if it will work, but if she likes reading, maybe start reading her a book when the nurse goes to get the vaccines and have her facing away from the door. That way if you get lucky the nurse might be able to get one or two in before she notices. I'm sure once she notices she may still be harder to handle. When I was older, my doctor used to have me count backwards from 100 by 3s or 7s or something so I would have to think. I didn't mind the vaccines, but it was a distraction method. So if she knows shapes, letters, or numbers maybe have her recite those. A doctor play kit might help too, so she can give shots, drawing blood before she goes in. It might not work, but have you ever tried stepping out of the room for a minute, if the doctor and nurse is okay with that? If you think she may have a blood sample taken and know what vein they may use, practice at home without any needles to get her used to the handling of her arm, or wherever. I think the main things are to try and distract her and to keep her from looking at the needles as best you can. Either that or go the opposite and get very excited about the equipment as it comes in with the nurse and act like it is the best thing ever. Of course keep trying with telling her what a brave girl she is and lots of praise and words of encouragement. Good luck!

Kids scream and cry when things hurt. She must equate needles with shots which HURT! Ha, there is nothing you can do about it but give big cuddles. My bos have dr appts. this week as well...I just wrap them up in my arms, tell them they are so brave and then kiss and cuddle when they are done. Usually an ice cream helps to make it feel better. ;)

I also try not to look at the needles. Both my kids hate needles, and no matter what, we end up having to hold them down. The 4 yo visit is especially hard, my ped said there are 5 shots. I didn't feel like doing it that day and I am dreading taking him back next week.

Desensitization. Just because you do it doesn't mean she will translate it to her. I understand her point. Growing up in the military had me going to a military dentist and all were just as rough. It took years later when I had a compassionate dentist who put the tray behind me and gave me gas before injection. Slowly we worked up to no gas at all. It took me a while to have the guts to actually look at it afterwards. We all have our fears. My son is phobic to bugs and I gave him bug books to look at and after a while it was no biggie. If you can't think of anything to do call a child psychologist because your daughter shouldn't have to live with her phobia. p.s. psychologists do NOT prescribe drugs they do talk therapy.

Ask you doctor to prescribe emla cream. It will numb the area. You put it on about 30-45 mins before the blood draw.

Both of my daughter's have had to have a blood draw. My youngest had to have one when she was 3 or so. Both of them did fine. They still found regular shots in the arm upsetting but for some reason a blood draw was tolerable. Go figure.