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Dad Tips for a Painless (almost) Shot at the Doctor’s Office

August 26, 2007 by Paul Banas Leave a Comment

There are few things worse than willingly inflicting pain on your child. But sometimes it’s necessary, and almost always during a trip to the doctor. Remember, if your child becomes hysterical faced with an incoming needle, it’s not because he’s a sissy. Kids have different pain tolerance and they are also very affected by your attitude toward the experience. Here are a few expert tips from a new study in “Pediatrics” to help avoid the pain.

  1. Numb up – some kids are more sensitive than others and there really is more pain. Ask the doctor whether a numbing gel might be right for your child.
  2. Play down the fear factor – If you wince or whimper when your child is getting a shot, your child is likely to take it more seriously. Don’t pooh-pooh his fears, but don’t unconsciously play into them.
  3. Be sweet to your child, with real sugar – a for babies 6 months old or younger, a packet of sugar in a half ounce of water, given in a syringe applicator, right before the shot can really help. You can also dip a pacifier in the sugary solution.
  4. Distract her – keep your child’s mind off the shot as much as possible, especially if she is already agonizing about it. Most kids won’t think about it until the nurse comes in with the tray, but don’t give your child any hints until the fateful moment.
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Filed Under: Dad

About Paul Banas

Paul Banas is happy married dad of two great kids living in San Francisco. He writes now about kids, new technology and how the two interact for GreatDad.com and for Pregnancy Magazine (pregnancymagazine.com) where he is also the publisher.

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Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks
Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

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Today we delve into the complexities of fatherhood with David Marcus, Ph.D., an expert with over forty years of experience working with families and children. In this enlightening conversation, we explore the essential components of communicating with your child, focusing on the development of a common emotional language. Learn about the four assumptions of emotionality that parents often make and discover strategies to foster a safe and open environment for meaningful conversations at any age.

Check out Dr. Marcus’ website at parentrx.org

Visit these links and embark on the path to becoming the best parent you can be:

– GreatDad.com/coaching 

– GreatDad.com/pq 

– Gratitude course: bit.ly/3NMLDNC  

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