Reward for a Shot?

a kiss and a hug and a 'you did a good job, sweetheart!'
everything in life does not have to come with a prize.
khairete
S.

I suggest emotional support before the shot is all that is needed. A hug and ice cream afterwards is the way to go.

Later: a reward implies that you expect her to do something over which she has a choice. I suggest giving her a treat is more appropriate. The use of semantics (way of using words) is important.

Good behavior is a reward unto itself. We reinforce that reward with praise; not things.

Do the ice cream afterward. Frankly, I had to do more with my kid, but he had blown things up to the point of hysterics. It was a rough couple years, but we've got it dialed in now. :)

Our peds office gave them lollipops. Of course, this was in the 90s before the whole world went crazy.

:)

***ETA***

I am about your age Theresa. (at least I suspect as much)

I wonder as well...when DID the world go crazy? And parents not make 'parental' choices??

It has gone CRAZY!

**and NOT in a 'good' way...IMO

Hmmm...

I am of the school of thought that you GIVE kiddos choices, when you CAN! Ex..."would you like an apple or a banana with lunch?"..."would you like the blue top or the red one with THESE shorts?"

I also believe in rewards for things that are 'reward worthy' from 'my' point of view...Ex...an excellent grade in a subject they struggled with...finishing out a season in a sport where they were on a team that struggled.

There are SOME choices/decisions that *I* make as parent (being the 'supreme autocratic dictator' that I am) that are worthy of a hug and a 'good job'. Shots fall into THAT category for me.

Best!

Nope. Never had an issue over a shot either. They aren't fun but they are necessary.

We never did that. I instead would bring a book that we were reading at night to the appointment and read it to her while they prepped her arm and then gave her the shot.

I also told her the secret, that if she would stay calm and not pay attention, it would not hurt nearly as bad as when she watched and tensed up. . The first time she actually did this, she realized it was true.

In our family, if you get a shot, you get ice cream afterwards. Otherwise we never made a big deal about it and dealt with it very matter-of-factly.

We didn't really do anything, just a sticker from the doctor and lots of hugs.

I did tell her why she was getting the shot. At 5 years old you can explain that vaccines are medicine to prevent big illnesses that can make her very sick.
For our family, I told my DD that her Grandma didn't have some of the vaccines that we have now and because of that she got the measles when she was a girl and ended up in the hospital. My DD still didn't want the shot, but afterwards she turned to me and said "And now I won't get measles!" So it definitely helped her understanding to know why she was needing a shot in the first place.

ETA: Also, when they were doing the shot, I whispered a joke in her ear to distract her.

We go to the animal shelter and visit the animals after all of their doctors appointments. (It is right next doo to the doctors office). Sometimes we bring items to donate. The kids always look forward to those visits.

Doctors use to hand out lollipops for this when I was a kid.
When our son went through it they gave out stickers.

We would stop n pick up ice cream for dessert. Not really a reward, but a treat for the family to share. Shots are a part of life.

Ice cream. Even for the adults. :-)

Hi, Drama:

A hug and a kiss and praise for being
brave.

D.

We don't really do a reward for a shot... But we do often go out for ice cream afterward. Just as a treat, which we both get regardless of her behavior in the doctor's office. I don't tie it in any way to the shot though... Usually I will just stop and get it on the way home without saying anything.

Ice cream afterwards. I had a kid who would scream to high heaven. He was SO afraid of needles. It wasn't until he finished 4th grade that he could bear to get a shot without crying. And it wasn't until he was taller than me that I didn't have to hug him anymore while he was getting a shot to help him get through it.

Funny - didn't want night-night kisses anymore. But needed that hug in order to get a shot!

So yeah, something special between the two of you, but not expensive. And you DON'T ask your 5 year old what she wants. And you DON'T say "If you behave for your shot, you can have ice cream." You say "After your shot, we'll go for ice cream."

You are having trouble with your daughter talking back to you. Don't make it worse by "making deals" with her. She gets what she gets. Don't give a 5 year old power over you, mama.

A hug and, "I'm proud of you for cooperating even though you were scared. It's o.k. that you cried. You still cooperated, and I'm proud of you for that."
Then another hug. Then we go home. Oh, and I remind them of why the shots are important for their health (what would happen without them) and that's why get them. So, instead of telling her what prize she GETS for getting the shots, tell her about the horrible lifelong debilitating diseases like polio that she WON'T GET.

So, to prepare her for tomorrow, remind her why it's important. Tell her being brave is doing something even though you are scared to do it. Tell her the truth, that yes, it hurts, but not nearly as much as she is worried it will, and the hurt will stop soon after (you might ask the nurse about that). I tell my kids to surprise the nurse by saying something funny when they get the shot instead of yelling "ow!" like "cheese and crackers!" or "good googamooga!" and they are so busy concentrating on doing that they forget to be scared.

Good luck. Holding the child down, screaming, while I grab arms/legs is what we did. My little one went nuts!!!! But shots are done.

M&Ms. When my daughter was little, she would do anything for an M&M, now she gets a fun sized pack or a tootsie roll pop.

How about some tylenol

I just held my sweetie in my arms.
Told him how brave he was.
Then took for a treat. One time for ice cream, one time I got him a little
toy.

I was kind of matter of fact and didn't make a big deal beforehand. I told my son it was like a pinch so he wouldn't freak out. The nurse at his doctors office is so fast that it's over quickly, a little crying and big hugs follow. A "good job, you're such a big boy" was all he needed.

But if your son is worried, tell him you have surprise planned and then take him for ice cream.

We don't typically give rewards for shots. The kids usually get a lollipop or a sticker from the nurse and then I give praise for being brave. I have given rewards for blood draws, especially when they have to take multiple vials and it takes forever. My husband has taken him for take out and I got him a diecast train. Something small for being brave and behaving for the nurse

Our pediatrician has a plastic Treasure Chest filled with little toys. The nurse brings the Treasure Chest in when she gives the shot. Once the shot is over, the child gets to open the lid and pick out a toy. I thought this was really clever.

We usually stop at the McDonald's drive thru and bring home Happy Meals as a reward for a good doctor visit.

T. Y

Something to take their mind off of it... trip to the movies and popcorn?