My 10 year old wouldn't let the nurse have a finger prick at annual check up

[Anonymous]

Well but the treatment won't be given because no diagnosis except kid is dying sorry

[Anonymous]

Nanny here.

I got a glucose test kit years ago so that kids could see the pin, watch me load it, then push the button for me. They helped hold the strip to my finger so that the blood went into the strip, then they practiced writing down the number. Eventually? They each tried it themselves. Why? Because kids believe adults who model things as daily occurrences that aren’t a big deal.

I take kids with me when i get blood draws and vaccines, and they’re fascinated by watching. It doesn’t make them ask for needles… but it does make it easier when they need them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTAF with no vaccines since 2? You have bigger things to worry about than a finger prick, OP. Ugh.

Seriously. Everyone go get the shot. Bring ice befor, ice after, numbing "Cream" (lidocaine or etc) and go for milkshakes afterwards. Your whole sob story about how you "felt for her" is nice, but you aren't doing your daughter any favors not giving her a chance to handle this while the stakes are low and iti s easy. That is your JOB as a parent. Also my dad hated doctors as a kid but I got flu shots. One yera I didn't and I got the flu. Trust me, I was lining up after that. The flu shot was a bad match a couple of years ago and I got the flu. And as the other poster said -- vaccine are for all sorts of things.

Ever heard of HeLa cells? Those are Henrietta Lacks' cells who died of cervical cancer at age 30. My daughter has already had Gardasil at 11. No worries of that now.

DS recently had to start taking an injectable med daily (thank you, insurance, for not giving us weekly, but I digress) for a serious medical condition. Thankfully he had practiced with vaccines and this isn't a huge hurdle. Do your daughter a service OP and work on this. The day will come when she needs this and she will thank you. Even if it isn't the needles directly it is not letting irrational fear control your life. Nothing more universal.

[Anonymous]

Finger pricks are terrible. Team daughter. Just get a blood draw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finger pricks are terrible. Team daughter. Just get a blood draw

+1

My kids don’t get a choice in getting their annual flu shot, but I would give them some autonomy in choosing a fingerpick vs a blood draw since both are reasonable options here.

[Anonymous]

One time when i took my infant to the ped to get his flu shot and we had to wait 20+ min becauae a kid this age was ahead of us and wouldnt let the nurse get the shot. I was super annoyed and finally threw enough of a fit they did us first. So… i think its common

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you get a yearly flu shot?

OP here. No we don't get yearly flu shot. Our last appt was early spring time, so there was no point to get it. To those who suggested bribes, believe me I tried ( nothing worked). Going to the appt, I had no idea that they will do finger prick blood draw, it was a surprise to me, so we didn't talk about it, didn't prepare for it at all. To those who said to pin her down or force her. I tried and I couldn't believe how strong my child was, she literally hid her pinched hand in the sleeve of the sweatshirt and wouldn't let it out. Me and the nurse didn't want to wrestle with her. Driving back home from the appt, my daughter was still so distraught and didn't speak a word. Honestly, I felt for her. I was upset with myself that I couldn't do anything regarding this situation.

I wouldn't have wrestled her (you're right, at 10, that's not going to work). I would have asked the nurse to give us a few minutes. Given her some time. Stay SO calm. And then I would have been straight with her. "I know you don't want this. I know it is scary. I will do whatever is in my power to make this easier on you, and so will the nurses. But we are not leaving this room until you get this procedure. You cannot let fear interfere with taking care of your health. If we have to sit here for three hours, that's what we're going to do, but you're getting this procedure here, today, so I'd recommend that you take a minute to think about what might make it easier."

Then I'd give her time. NO screens/books/distractions but if she needs time with her thoughts or to orient herself, that's fine. I would not rush her. I would offer a few things ("I have some ideas of ways we might be able to make this easier, do you want to hear them?") What if we numbed it with ice first? What if I got one first so you can watch? Or would you like to watch a video of someone getting one so you know what it will be like? Would you like to be "surprised" or would you like a clear count down? What would help? If she doesn't engage, you back off. "Okay, I'm here when you're ready" and YOU read something on your phone or stare into space. No begging, no negotiating. You are here for her, and here to help, but this is something she needs to do.

I have found that once my kids were about 5 or 6, and a few times of actually sitting somewhere for 30 mins (doesn't take long for kids to realize you're serious) they know I'm not messing around.

We gotta stay until closing? Then that's what we do. Go home, be back tomorrow morning at opening time. I can't imagine my kid lasting that long, but I'd be fully prepared to do it.

Oh, and she gets a flu shot and a covid shot every single year now. It's critical that you don't avoid these things because of her phobia, it makes it worse.

Being more stubborn and patient than your children is a really parenting hack.

OP please read and internalize this post. It’s great advice all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTAF with no vaccines since 2? You have bigger things to worry about than a finger prick, OP. Ugh.

OP said that she hadn't had any vaccines or blood draws in 2 years, not since she was 2. There are no mandatory scheduled vaccines between 8 and 10. My kids get flu and covid shots and I think that's ideal, but many kids don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTAF with no vaccines since 2? You have bigger things to worry about than a finger prick, OP. Ugh.

OP said that she hadn't had any vaccines or blood draws in 2 years, not since she was 2. There are no mandatory scheduled vaccines between 8 and 10. My kids get flu and covid shots and I think that's ideal, but many kids don't.

OP here. Yes, this is correct. My child had all the mandatory vaccines. Between ages 8-10 there are no mandatory vaccines, therefore she didn't have any for the last 2 years.