Overcome your child's fear of needles

Overcome your child's fear of needles

Phobia is a condition in which a person experiences an excessive fear of a certain object, causing an irrational fear that can threaten personal safety. Especially in children, have an excessive fear of needles.

1. What makes children often afraid of getting an injection?
Fear of pain caused by needles

• Unpleasant experience with previous injections

Childhood experiences where parents scare children into injections when doing behaviors that parents don't want

2. Can you give tips, how to make children not afraid when they want to be injected?

• Give an overview

Children are afraid of needles because they don't understand them. Provide information about the reasons for vaccination, as well as describe the process of vaccination. In addition, provide an overview of the shape and size of the syringe used. If possible, let the child see his friends who have been brave and finally succeeded in vaccinating.

•  Tell the child the time of injection

Before getting vaccinated, tell the child that that day he will be immunized by injecting with a syringe. On the one hand, maybe the child will feel anxious, but this is considered better than going straight to the doctor without telling him beforehand.

• Honesty

Avoid saying that the need for a vaccination is not painful. If your child realizes that it hurts, you will be branded a liar. It's better to tell the truth that the vaccination process may be painful, but it's only temporary and the pain is bearable.

• Do not delay

The earlier the immunization is given, the easier the process will be, because babies cannot remember the pain when immunized. On the other hand, toddlers and preschoolers will find it more difficult because they already know that needles are painful. If your child is still a baby, do not delay immunization when he is old enough to get it. In addition to ensuring timely immunization, it also simplifies the process.

• Give a smile

Research shows that parents who say 'don't worry' or 'it's okay' actually stress their child out because they catch something worrying. Conversely, if you show a smile and a calm demeanor, it can make the child feel calm too.

•  Provide moral support

Try to wait for your child during the vaccination process. Bring her favorite toy or doll. Moral support like this helps make the child feel comfortable.

• Reduce pain

You can put ice on the child's skin. Do it just before vaccination, for one minute. This will reduce pain when the needle penetrates the skin.

3. What should parents pay attention to before their child is injected?

• Make sure the child gets enough rest
• Feed the child 2 hours before the injection
• Wear clothes that are easy to open when the child is about to have an injection
• Make the child feel calm, but don't lie to the child by saying the injection doesn't hurt.
• Bring a toy or object that can distract him
• Schedule other activities after the injection

4. Why are some people afraid or even reluctant to have injections? Given, there are still many adults who are also afraid of injections
The most basic reason people are afraid of needles is the pain caused when the needle goes through skin and flesh. In addition, fear of injections can also be caused by trauma, such as trauma when a doctor was injected as a child. When the injection is given, the doctor may apply it gently and slowly, causing pain. As a result, a person becomes traumatized or afraid of being injected into adulthood.