When you take your kids in for shots of any kind and they ask.....?

Question

"will it hurt?"

What do you tell them? I personally tell them the truth,

"yes it will hurt a little bit, but not for long and mommy will be right there."

I have a friend who chooses to tell her kids that it won't hurt at all, I am just wondering how many parents go that route. In my thinking it would cause my kids to not trust me if I lied and said it wouldn;t hurt and then it did. Others thoughts?

Answer 1

Trust is SO important. I agree with you completely. Now is the time to start building that trust -- we're going to need it for later on!

My 9 year old son just had to go in for minor outpatient surgery the other day and I explained to him in detail what they were going to do and that it would be over before he knew it. By the time we got there, he felt more comfortable because he knew what to expect. It was still painful for him, but I held his hand the whole time and he felt was reassured knowing everything before hand.

In fact, he actually surprised me by thanking me when we left.

That bond of trust is sacred. I think you're absolutely doing the right thing by telling your children the truth.

Answer 2

I tell them that it will hurt. I have a little boy that will be 4 the end of this month, and due for his school boosters. He knows that it will hurt a little bit.

But I told him that it will only hurt for a minute, and then Mom will get him an ice cream for being a big boy! At first he didn't want to do it, but now he's decided it will be okay.

Answer 3

I just took my daughter for shots Tuesday, and I told her the truth, I said it will hurt a little, but Mommy will be right there beside you. She didn't even cry when she got the shots. But when I took her to get blood drawn she cried. She told the nurse "But I don't want to give blood!!!" while she was drawing it. It was kind of funny. When the nurse was finished she put a Dora band-aid on her arm, and she was okay after that. She's 5 years old.

Answer 4

I tell them the truth - It will hurt. But I also say - Remember that time you stubbed your toe and cried - It will not hurt that bad. Or remember the time you fell off your bike, it will not hurt that bad.

I also have a trick where I have them close their eyes and wiggle their fingers and toes. They concentrate on that so much they do not think about the needle.

I just try not to lie to the kids more than I have to.

Answer 5

Be honest you want your child to trust you. Not to mention if you say it won't hurt and then the doc says "ok this is only going to hurt a little" what is the kid to think?

Answer 6

You're heading in the right direction. I don't believe in lying to my kids. I always carried a little treat or toy to the Dr's office when they needed shots, usually they were to focused on what the surprise was to cry about the little prick of a needle.

Answer 7

I think you should tell them the truth, cause the minute its over, they know you lied to them and they won't trust you the next time.

Answer 8

We don't do "shots" but for those times that they did have to have blood drawn I informed them that it was going to poke through their skin and would only take a second. It may feel like a little pinch and then it is done. The calmer they are the easier and faster it will be and I always let them know that I am right there with them. :)

Answer 9

I agree with you, I tell my kids that it is going to hurt a little and in just a second it will be over with, I try to be as honest as possible with my children because if I lie to them, I am only teaching them that it is okay to lie... I don't want my children to lie to me and it seems to be working

Answer 10

I don't even wait for my son to ask. When I tell him he's going to the doctor I tell him everything that will happen and which things will and won't hurt.