How do I get my son to calm down?

Question

My son has to take his shots at the doctors soon. When I told him that, he got afraid and began to start crying about the shots. He thinks its going to hurt him really bad. I've already told him that its just a little sting and it won't hurt a lot, but I don't think he's listening, or maybe what I've said isn't helping him. Any tips on how to get him to calm down? He's really nervous...

Answer 1

have him sit in your lap and pet him.  sing to him.  cuddle him.

don't use words.  hold him and snuggle.

Answer 2

Have YOU ever had a shot?

Did it hurt?

Then  STOP insulting your son's intelligence.He KNOWS it is going to hurt and does NOT look forward to it.Just tell him it is part of life what cannot be cured MUST be endured.

Answer 3

hold him and dont say more about it  

Answer 4

Tell him you'll get ice cream or something nice after it's over.

It always used to help me to look at it as it went in, that way it wouldn't surprise me or anything.

Answer 5

There are numbing creams out there that can be prescribed to your son to ease the pain of the shots.  Docs tend to give you the scrip beforehand to have you fill it and apply it to the area 20-30 min. before your visit.  This numbs up the skin only.

I have also found that by stretching the muscle (ie. dropping the arm over the back of a chair or crossing one leg over the other while doing the "bend over") helps out a lot.  Having the vaccines at room temp. also eliminated the soreness felt afterward.

Answer 6

Perhaps making it out as if the shots are not only required but necessary to defeat the bad guys may help.  In other words, make it seem as if the shots are nothing in comparison to defeating (or winning over) something else, and that as a grown young man, a sting is nothing.  Besides, there may be a surprise from mom afterwards... :o)