I need to take my DD 5yr into the pediatrician on Thursday for routine blood work. She freaks over needles let alone them drawing blood. She has never had it before and she is going to scream the place down.
Anyone gone through this and have a few tricks up their sleeve? I don't want to traumatize the poor kid for life.
The nurse at the ER room put the numbing stuff on the skin first, then 20 minutes later totally distracted my daughter by chatting about something interesting while holding a cloth up so she couldn't see what she was doing. The tricks are up the nurse's sleeves.I believe the numbing stuff is Emla cream. We've used it prior to my daughter having IV's put in. It works well.At my kid's dr's office they have a bottle of compressed air that they relabled "chicken juice". They spray it on the kids arm and it doesn't really do anything but make it cold but it will work if they believe in it. Also, distraction can work wonders.
Emla cream, got it, thanks. Now I hve to see if we sell it here in Canada. I will do my best at distraction...it is just difficult when you have to concentrate on keeping them so still.
My kid will do anything for chocolate, I swear she would trade me in for a pack of smarties. Maybe I will tell her I will treat her after.....
I detest needles. A inexperienced nurse broke one off in my arm at age 11 because I jerked when she could not find the vein and I went ballistic and due to my ADHD, nearly tore the place apart.
Couldn't get my hands on Emla cream but you know what we survived! I didn't tell her until we where in the room. I knew the anxiety would just keep mounting and she might bolt. lol I told her it would hurt a bit like a needle, handed her favourite stuffie and two nurses held her still so I could hold her. I just keep yakking away the whole time and she cried but no screaming. Went and bought a big chocolate treat afterwards!
Be greatful for small measures right?