How to Overcome Children Afraid of Needles

It is common to see children afraid of needles. Even,tidI screamed a little hysterically when you see the needle inject. Of course, as a parent, you also have an important role to play in helping to cope fear the.

Syringes cannot be avoided by children. This is because many vaccinations that must be received by children are given by injection. If your child is afraid of needles, it can hinder the vaccination process.

Tips for Dealing with Children Afraid of Needles

There are several things you can do to prevent your child from being afraid of needles. Most importantly, parents must also be calm. It is not uncommon for parents to panic when their child is about to be injected. This parental panic actually makes the child more afraid. As a parent, calm yourself first before calming your child.

There are various ways you can do to deal with a child who is afraid of needles, including:

  • Give him a smile

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

  • Prioritize 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 honestly say that the vaccination process may be painful, but it's only temporary and the pain is bearable.

  • Don't 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. Apart from ensuring timely immunization, it also simplifies the process.

  • Tell child injection time

    Before vaccination, tell the child that that day he will be immunized by injection using 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.

  • 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.

  • Make children feel happy

    Provide information about vaccinations in children, and keep children happy before and after the process is complete. Encourage your child to do fun activities, such as telling funny stories, singing, or listening to music.

  • Give 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.

There is another, generally effective way to get your child to have an injection, which is to give a gift. By offering your child an attractive gift, it is hoped that he will succeed in overcoming his fear of needles. You can also offer him to buy a new book, play in the park, or give him his favorite food.

While waiting for your child's turn to give you an injection, you can give him something he likes to distract him. Candy or other treats are effective in keeping a child busy and forgetting the syringe that frightens him.

It is important to remember, parents must remain calm so that it can dispel the child's anxiety in dealing with needles. In addition, be clever to distract the child, and keep the child in a comfortable state.