
I will help you to be brave. You will be OK.”

Most children need some shots before they start kindergarten. Vaccine shots are special medicines that will help you to stay healthy. You will need to get some shots that day. “We will be seeing your doctor in a few days for your check-up.

Explain that they have a doctor’s appointment coming up, where they will likely be getting some vaccinations (or “shots”). Please try not to promise your child ahead of time that there won’t be any “shots,” as the vaccination schedules do change from time to time.Įxplain why they need vaccinations as children at this age do start to have some more rational thinking. You need them to keep you healthy, so you don’t get sick.”Ī child 4 years or older may benefit from a little more advance preparation - maybe a day or two before. They are little pokes that might hurt for a minute, but mommy or daddy will be here to help you to be brave. They protect your child from many illnesses,” says Valerie Rubin, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas. “Fortunately, there are many ways that a parent can help a child overcome their fear of needles and help them understand why vaccinations are so important.”įor additional information about child vaccines, check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).įollow these tips to help prepare your child for vaccinations:Ī 2- or 3- year-old is usually best told immediately before or during the visit. “Vaccinations are a very important part of your child’s medical care. However, please don’t let this or other concerns prevent you from sticking to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule for your child. It’s common and normal for children to express fear or anxiety over getting an injection. Unfortunately, a young child will worry or remember the vaccination shots most of all. “Will I get any shots today?” “No shots!” “I’m not ready for my shots!”Ī well-child visit covers many important things: assessments of growth and development, a physical examination, and discussions of nutrition, safety, behavior and emotions. You worry that it might go something like this: Your little one’s well-child visit is coming up.
