Vaccinations can be scary. If adults can feel weak in the knees at the prospect of getting poked, what more a child?
Needle jitters are common, and if not handled correctly, they can traumatize a child.
Vaccination is essential for the health and protection of everybody, so helping your child get through the fear of vaccination is crucial.
Vaccines are vital to protect children from serious illnesses. Because of vaccines, severe diseases like smallpox and rinderpest have been eradicated. Today, vaccines continue to protect children from contracting life-threatening diseases like polio, rotavirus, and mumps.
Throughout a child’s life, they must be vaccinated routinely for 14 diseases. Some of these will begin once they’re born, but some booster shots will take place as they grow. That’s why it’s essential to ensure they don’t get traumatized, so they’ll continue to receive immunization for diseases.
Parents, especially new ones, have many questions about their child’s vaccination. Is it safe? Can your get numbed arm after a flu shot? Most healthcare personnel assisting with vaccinations know this, and they can answer most of your questions on the fly. But if not, your primary care doctor can answer your questions. Here are some tips to help your child through a vaccination:
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Be Honest
Telling your child that they won’t feel anything or that it would only feel a pinch might help, or it won’t. It’s essential to be honest so they know what to expect. The last thing you’d want is for your child to lose their trust in you and the vaccination process. One effect of trauma is avoiding a situation, no matter how important it is. And if your child still has so many booster shots to take in the future, that could be a huge problem.
Explain The Process Step by Step
Giving your child an outline of what will transpire can give them something to anticipate. But make sure to relay it positively and choose the words you’ll use. Doing this contains the difficult things they’re not looking forward to experiencing.
You can say: ‘On Thursday, around 2 pm, you and mom will go to the clinic and meet with the nice friendly nurse who will vaccinate you. It will only take less than three minutes which is the same as watching The Wheels on the Bus’—outlining the steps, when, where, and how it will happen will give them a sense of control. It’s essential to provide them with a vague timeline and not promise things.
Prepare And Practice
Make sure to prepare the things you need to bring, like a book, a plushie, or a device. Pack these before you go so you won’t forget them. If you plan to let your child watch a video on their device, make sure you have this downloaded. If the strategy you’re going to use is deep breathing or counting to ten, you can practice this a few times at home with your child.
Offer Choices
Offering choices to your child can help them get through their fear. It’s as simple as asking them which arm, they prefer to get poked, or asking them if they want to sit on dad’s lap, or if they want to be held by mom. Offering them a choice gives them control over the situation, which can alleviate their fear.
Use Comfort Positioning
Holding your child’s hand or putting them on your lap can be comforting and help soothe their fear. You can also sit chest to chest, especially if the vaccination is on the leg, so that you can control their actions gently, and they’ll feel your heart beating, which can be reassuring. Another great lap position is back to the chest, which can help prevent them from kicking or wiggling.
Give A Distraction
You have packed your bag with their choice of distraction. Before the vaccination, ask your child which ‘toy’ they would like to bring. You can also distract them by talking to them or telling an animated story. Doctors call this ‘talkesthesia’ or audio analgesia. It’s a tactic doctors use to divert patients with trypanophobia or fear of needles so they can get through with the procedure.
Validate Their Emotions
Acknowledging your child’s apprehension and fear is crucial so they feel heard and understood. You can do this by reflecting on their feeling, acknowledging them, and showing empathy. You can say: ‘It looks like you’re feeling scared, and I can see that this must be really difficult for you.’ Show empathy by saying, ‘I can only imagine how hard it must be for you.’
In validating your child’s emotions, remember that you don’t need to highlight your vaccination experience and how you hurdled past it effortlessly. What’s more important is to show them that you care and understand their feelings. When your child feels you support their feelings, they’ll be more encouraged.
Plan A Treat After The Vaccination
It’s nice that your child can have something positive to look forward to after the vaccination. You can involve them in planning a treat after the vaccination. Ask them if they want to get ice cream or a small toy. Rewarding them within reason is essential so the next hurdle will be easier to tackle.
Conclusion
Vaccinations are essential to protect your child from life-threatening illnesses. It’s only natural for a parent to have concerns about vaccinations, but it’s important to remember that the benefits far outweigh the potential risks. If your child is apprehensive about the procedure, following the mentioned tips can get you through this important task.
These tips will help your child through vaccination and protect them against preventable diseases. It’s also important to remember that you’re not alone in this process and that many resources are available to help you and your child through this experience.
