Tips For Planning Your Childcare Flu Shot

Before a vaccination, getting your children ready is often a good idea, as often they are afraid of needles. The local childcare flu shot providers on The Gold Coast are experienced in dealing with vaccinating children and so are equipped to deal with the practical and emotional issues involved.

But children can tell if you’re hiding something, so being open and honest about the whole issue is the best policy.

These tips can help you prepare your child for their vaccination:

• Pick a nice quiet time to talk with your children about vaccinations. Speaking in a calm, relaxed tone of voice to show you have confidence in what you are saying. Use honest and simple explanations that they can easily understand and can accept
• A good example of what to say is “I want you to be fit and happy, so we need to make sure that you will stay healthy, by having this medicine that will keep you from getting the nasty flu
• It is important that you do not tell them that it will not hurt or that they will not feel anything as this is misleading and you can lose their trust
• Making statements like “do not be nervous” or “big boys don’t cry” is bound to make them nervous and worried causing them to feel shame and making matters worse
• Making threats also makes them feel worse and scared, it shows you think this is going to cause them pain. It is ok to tell them that after we will go to the park or have McDonald’s so they have something to look forward to
• Often a child will say “NO”, “I don’t want to” or “please mummy don’t let them hurt me” so it is important to have a nice but firm response ready such as “Dear it is very important as we talked about, that we do this, so let’s both of us work together to get through this and make it easier”
• Leave early for your vaccination appointment so you have a relaxed and stress free trip there. Maybe tell a good story or listen to some nice music

During the Vaccination

Most of the fear or stress is from anticipation so when visiting childcare flu shot providers, try:

• Asking if they want to sit on your lap, this is their safety zone and can make them feel more relaxed
• Hold their hand or suggest the play with a stress ball or a favorite toy. Even watch something on your cell phone to catch their interest
• Have them do a count down from 5 to zero, so they are aware of what’s happening and are not afraid
• Slow, deep breaths can help to calm them down and relax, practice before you get there how to do “breathe in the roses then blow out the candles.

Having your children vaccinated can be stressful, so beforehand, explain in a calm and friendly way, just why this is important to their health and that of other people. Go with them when they get their shot and be supportive but not critical of their fear or apprehension