Preparing 2-Year Old for Vaccination?

I wouldn't advise "preparing" her, either. With my five year old recently, he asked if he had to get a shot and I casually said I waasn't really sure (thought I knew he needed one). Then when the doctor said he needed one, I reminded him that it only hurt a tiny bit and not to worry. He was a little panicy, but he didn't cry. My worry was that by preparing him, I would have encouraged his idea that it was a big painful deal, and it really wasn't. I know, given your child's age, it'll be more tearful. Plus she has more than one... but I still wouldn't "prepare her" by over talking it or even mentioning it before the appointment. Good luck!

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I, too, have a September 2007 daughter who is behind on vaccines. We went in two weeks ago for her two year check up and did not say anything until they brought the shots into the room at the end. Then told her it was time for her shot. She cried but was quickly consoled afterwards. My older children I tell but no more than 24 hours in advance.

I would not prepare her any earlier than in the doctor's office. I did this before and totally freaked my son out. He did not ever want to go to the doctor after that and I almost had to pull him inside. It wasn't worth it. I just tell him now that the shot is necessary and that it will hurt a little and that he can hold my had really tight and to look the other way.
Now that he is a little older when he has to go to the doctor he asks if he is going to get a shot every time. I tell him no when it is no and I tell him he may have to give blood when we were testing him for allergies. It is not necessary to tell him any earlier than the morning of because their little body gets all worked up for nothing. Good Luck!!

I agree not to tell her ahead. I would not reward with sugar though. Sugar lowers the immune system for 5-6 hours afterwards. You want her healthy to tolerate the vaccination better. Also giving lots of vitamin C that day to help her immune system not react to the vaccination. If you see a chiropractor getting her adjusted that day will also boost her immune system to help tolerate the shot.

Hello H.,
Fist off I totally agree with your comment about Eileen, What the heck. Im glad to see some mothers have all the time in the world to sit and write a book report about something you didn't ask for. Whoa!!! For your question. I think 2yrs old is too young to tell them what to expect at their check up (shots). I give my boys tylenol 30 mins before the appt and tell them, they will get a treat afterwards something to help them through the entire process not what they are in for. Many times my boys never cried. Tough guys. My 15mos old just had his shots last week and freaked out which is new. I noticed that he doesn't like having them in his leg vs his arm. Interesting. My 3yr old isn't bothered by the shots. I think because they are use to falling all the time and are use to pain. My dr let's me hold the kids on my lap which makes them feel better during the process and I rub their backs while getting the injections. I use to give my older son a sippy cup of juice at your daughters afe afterwards to comfort him and then lots of hugs telling him what a big boy he is. When they were babies I had a bottle ready to give afterwards and that worked like a charm.

Hang in there.

SAHM, 40yrs old with 2 amazing, funny little boys that move at the speed of light.

Don't tell her about the shots until you are in the vaccination room - have a special treat on hand like a lollipop for after just in case the doctor doesn't have stickers - etc. You may want to bring her security item - teddy bear - blankie whatever soothes her.
My son recognized the nurse that gave him his last shots so he knew what was coming and wimpered but got throught it o.k. with the promise of a Spiderman sticker.
She may be a little tired and grumpy the next day or two and even have a slight fever ask your pedi if you can give h er some Tylenol if she gets uncomfortable. Also have her exercise her legs or arms where she got a shot to reduce bruising.

Don't "prepare" her. The more you say about it the more it will scare her. Just treat it very matter-of-factly. I never said anything to my kids about it, I just took them to the doctor. I might have said something like, "we're going to the doctor for a shot." None of them were ever afraid, except for the one time a nurse tried to "prepare" my son for his shot by talking at him for 5 minutes. By the time she came at him with the needle, he was screaming and trying to get away.

I told my daughter that it would hurt, but that it was cvery important. I asked her please to not cry and be scared until after the pain, because it was silly to do it before anything hurt. Then i gave her some mentos after the shots.

The less you get uptight over it, the less she'll fret.

I agree with the others. I'm not sure I'd prepare her very much at all. It just gives her the chance to get scared over something she doesn't understand (conversely, my son was soooooooo excited about "the potty train" because he didn't understand "potty training" :-D

I would act normal like nothing special is happening and not say a word about it previous to the day. Load her in the car and say, "We're going to the doctor." Don't mention shots. Be matter of fact, unscared, confident, and unapologetic. Even if you feel like you are sending her to the death chamber (which is how I feel about getting needles stuck into my precious angels), put up a good front. It will keep her calm. If you are scared, she'll freak out. Although she might be a bit old for this, maybe it will help to try to distract her with toys so when the shot comes, it won't be a shock. Then, immediately afterward, offer a treat she can't resist or is normally denied her.

Also, there's a cream I like called Emla. It numbs the skin. They can't feel the needle go in, although they can still feel the pain of the medicine going into the skin. Still, any little bit of pain they can't feel is worth it to me. I asked my pediatrician to prescribe it. I got the generic form of it and it cost $7 for a tube (no insurance). I've used it for two vaccinations now and there's still some left.

Good luck! I did the vaccination thing last week with my 7 month old daughter.

I would read the Sanctity of Human Blood.
It helped me make good decisions about vaccines.
Best of luck!

I am a doctor and I am against vaccination b/c my son (like millions of children around the world) got autism from them.
I have been researching autism and related conditions for more than 5 yrs, and am an advocate in my city for children with these conditions. I have spoken to many, many parents around the world about this issue, and they all agree that their children's autism was caused by vaccines.

I admire Dr. Wakefield deeply as well as many other doctors who dared to speak the truth about vaccination.
Great info in the book: "the sanctity of human blood, vaccination i$ not immunization", you can get it at:
www.thedoctorwithin.com or get one of the books from dr. Leonard Horowitz.
Of course it is your choice to vaccinate your daughter, but I don't like to hear that people who don't really know dr. Wakefield's work, say that he is a fraud.
Good luck
L.

I just took my twins for the 2 year old shots and actually they did very well. Better than expected. They both would cry everytime and this time they did not cry at all. I gave them little mortin before the apt and they were fine.

Good Luck. I think it hurts you more than them.