Any time I take my son anywhere he has to deal with anyone in scrubs he gets panicky and clings hard to me. I can't get him to stand on a scale for weight or hieght. He has hearing problems and speech problems and problems comprehending at times like most of the time. We went to his wic appt the other day and they had scrubs on. He started this petrified fit. I kept signing not hurt ears cause people in scrubs usually mess with his ears. I can't necessarily explain to him he is 3 but limited hearing with issues with his ears. So how do I get him to keep from freaking out if he sees someone in scrubs any ideas? his blankie didn't help sooth him either. He just kept screaming no no no and climbing on me. Thanks
Hi D.,
This may backfire on your but it crossed my mind that you might want to get some scrubs for yourself. If you do housework in them or cook his dinner in them he might not associate them only with bad...
Just a thought.
M.
He was born in a hospital I take it. No wonder he has a fear of people in that kind of uniform.
If your son isn't in a playschool put him in one half a day everyday. He needs other children even if he has a hearing impairment.
Put him in a gym class for children. He can use help knowing where his body is in time and space. All these things that build confidence help to diminish fear.
It's summertime get him into a swim class for children. Water reduces fears in children.
I always book appointments for my kids the same days so that m younger can watch my oldest get checked out first. Maybe if you let them do a mock run through on you first he would see it's not for his ear. My boys even get their teeth one at the dentist side by side so if he starts getting scared he just looks to see if it's hurting big brother then happily implies with at they ask him to do.
When my son was 3, we got him child sized scrubs and a toy stethoscope so he could be a doctor for Halloween. That Christmas we got him a toy first aid kit and he had great fun 'doctoring' us and making us feel better.
By pretending to be a doctor, it made him feel more in control when he had to go in for a check up himself.
Try to have the person do to you whatever it is first. So he understands )hopefully) that they wont hurt him. Try to keep your sons focus on you or another object he is very interested in (we use these tiny wind up toys, lke monkeys that smash little tambourines, a monkey that flips, a dinosaur that walks etc, to distract DD for hair styling, finger nail clippings, and only bring them out at those times) Poor little guy, I wish I had something better to suggest.
Poor little guy has probably had more done to him than most kids his age so he associates the uniform with his trauma. Some kids get this way when you walk them into the Drs office,,remembering the last time they were there they had a shot, or yucky medicine. Its somewhat normal for them to remember and be afraid the same thing will happen. You might try going alone the day before any of his appointments and explaining to them how he feels, and drop off a small toy, or a sticker, or book, and have them ready when he arrives the next day to start out with a smile and a gift for him instead of the appointment just being about looking in his ears and shots or whatever. You can even do this when he doesnt have an appointment but have a few things there waiting for him (or sneak them in your purse) and just take him in, get the goodie, and then come out. He will see after a while that going there and seeing these people in scrubs wont always hurt.
