Dad Tip of the Day: Shots

Dad Tip of the Day: Shots are no fun for kids, but help coach your kids so they can conquer their fear of the needle.

I don’t know any kid who enjoys a shot. Perhaps you have seen the kids who freak out just by being in the doctor’s office due to some prior bad experiences.

As parents, it’s not fun having your kids get shots either, but there are things we can do to help our kids get over their fear of the shots. Not that it will turn into a fun experience, but perhaps we can get to the point where they can be OK with them, and move on quickly. I found a good article online that has these helpful tips: https://shotofprevention.com/2016/05/04/the-12-best-pediatrician-tips-to-help-kids-who-are-afraid-of-shots/

• A calm attitude starts with the parent

• Explain why shots are important

• Practice before the appointment

• Use distractions to help

• Give praise and encouragement

• Reward the kids for doing a good job with the shots

There is no fool proof way to help kids get over their fear of shots, but we can do our part as parents to help them get through.

My son recently got some shots and was fearful going in. He did a good job and was tough – the only problem was he tensed his leg before the shot and was hobbling in soreness for a day after. Oops, I forgot to coach him to relax his muscles… next time it will go even better!

Thanks for coming by today,

Brian