Your Kid and Needles

[ma-skis.com]

so, my kid hates needles, so we just outright bribe him to get him to go and get it, (he's 6). I hate bribing him for anything, this is actually the only thing that we go out of our way and use bribes to get him to do it.

Just wanted to know what everyone elses' strategies for their kid was. maybe the CP braintrust has got some better ideas than I do.

[Rathji]

When we did booster shots for my daughter last year, so she would have been 3 or 4, and there was 3 of them. The first 2 were fine, but by the time the 3rd one happened she was freaking. I think it was because she didn't remember the last time she had them, so she wasn't scared. Now, every time we even pull into the parking lot of the South Calgary Health Center she starts freaking out.

Bottom line, you can't really stop them from being scared until they are old enough to fully use reason in these situations, which is a lot older than 6.

As for bribing a kid, it obviously sets a bad precedent, but the reality is, unless you are getting needles every week or even month, I doubt it will have a bad outcome, especially if you try and avoid them on a daily basis.

For us, we try to use a lot of things to generate positive 'self talk'. Needles from the doctor are healthy, we want to be healthy so we can go to school (or whatever activity she enjoys), etc. This gets us in the door and sitting on the chair.

Afterwards, they get Starbucks.

At the very least, it gives us a chance to calm them down and realize that it doesn't really hurt that bad anymore, which I hope will help the self talk next time.

[Boblobla]

I am 30 and I still ####ing hate needles. Bribes work.

[Red Potato Standing By]

My one kid use to freak out when he got needles,till we figured out if we let him watch them put the needle in he didn't. After that we have never had a problem.

[photon]

As long as it isn't a consistent thing for any difficult situation, bribes for needles isn't going to spoil them.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

They are at the age where they have a little bit more autonomy - It may not be feasible given that it is immunization season but ask the nurse giving the shot if they could actually explain it to your child and often times they have dolls that you can fake give a needle to, helps relieve anxiety/fears associated with giving needles.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Afterwards, they get Starbucks.

Get them a couple espresso BEFORE the shot. They will be so wired they wont even notice the shots!!

Also, we all bribe our kids all the time. It is how the world works. The more dastardly the deed the more overt and over the top the bribe needs to be. As long as it isn't too regular it should be fine.

[Rerun]

I see your point. By giving him a bribe you are basically rewarding his bad behaviour.

How about if you instead punish the bad behavior... as in take something away until he agrees to have the shot? A favorite toy? TV privileges? ... and then return those items/privileges when he gets the shot?


.... or just take him for his shot... whether he likes it or not. You are after all, the boss.
No bribes, no punishments.... just get it done and over with and ignore the tantrum.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I see your point. By giving him a bribe you are basically rewarding his bad behaviour.

How about if you instead punish the bad behavior... as in take something away until he agrees to have the shot? A favorite toy? TV privileges? ... and then return those items/privileges when he gets the shot?


.... or just take him for his shot... whether he likes it or not. You are after all, the boss.
No bribes, no punishments.... just get it done and over with and ignore the tantrum.

Not wanting to get poked by a 4 inch needle is now considered "bad behavior"?

Ill take rerun has no kids for $300, Alex.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Iginla

Not wanting to get poked by a 1/2 inch needle is now considered "bad behavior"?

Ill take rerun has no kids for $300, Alex.

fyp


The bad behaviour is the tantrum he's raising. He has now learned that if he raises a big enough stink over something he doesn't want to do, he will get a reward for doing it.

And you are exagerating about the 4" needle. They don't stick 4 inches of needle into you... its probably no more than 1/2 of an inch.

[Table 5]

I have no kids either, but I'm going to pretend like i have all the answers.

I think treats should be rewards for positive behavior, not to prevent negative. Tell them they will get a treat if they behave and suck it up like a champ. If they whine and cry, they get nothing. Either way though, they still have to go through with it.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Rerun

fyp


The bad behaviour is the tantrum he's raising. He has now learned that if he raises a big enough stink over something he doesn't want to do, he will get a reward for doing it.

And you are exagerating about the 4" needle. They don't stick 4 inches of needle into you... its probably no more than 1/2 of an inch.

What tantrum? The OP never mentioned anything about the kid having a tantrum, just that the kid doesn't like needles. It's natural human behavior to not want to be in pain. The kid shouldn't be punished for that.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by ma-skis.com

so, my kid hates needles, so we just outright bribe him to get him to go and get it, (he's 6). I hate bribing him for anything, this is actually the only thing that we go out of our way and use bribes to get him to do it.

Just wanted to know what everyone elses' strategies for their kid was. maybe the CP braintrust has got some better ideas than I do.

Depends on the child. My daughter @ 6 was able to understand things. When she split her head open for stitches, she asked what was going to happen at the doctor. I explained in detail the proceedure. When the doctor was putting in the stitches/freezing my daughter talked non-stop asking questions about what the doctor was doing.

My son @ 6, would require heavy sedation for a hangnail.

So long and short, you know your child, if talk and explaining will work (often they are scared b/c they don't know what it is) then go with that. Otherwise, bribe the little effer.

Good luck.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

All your great ideas you have before having the kids get thrown out the door when the only thing you want is for them to STFU.

Yeah, I might have a different opinion in 3 years. I'd like to think I can stay within those guidelines most of the time at least, but we'll see. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's bratty kids.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, I might have a different opinion in 3 years. I'd like to think I can stay within those guidelines most of the time at least, but we'll see. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's bratty kids.

Parents make bratty kids.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

Most likely, bribing your kid for a needle has absolutely zero effect on the future person the kid will be, zero. If it has even the most insignificant effect, then something is seriously wrong, i.e. you keep the kid locked under the stairs.

I don't think one small experience will taint a kid, but I think they can add up if that's your philosophy with every event. Kids might not necessarily be smart, but they are pretty perceptive and pick up what the rules are. I think kids adapt to rules just like they adapt to parents not enforcing them.

Again, that's just my 3rd party opinion based on observation and not much else. I have a 8 month pregnant wife though, so I can try my theories out in the real world soon, ha.

Parents make bratty kids.

That's what I'm hoping is true. This way you at least have some control.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I don't think one small experience will taint a kid, but I think they can add up if that's your philosophy with every event. Kids might not necessarily be smart, but they are pretty perceptive and pick up what the rules are. I think kids adapt to rules just like they adapt to parents not enforcing them.

Again, that's just my 3rd party opinion based on observation and not much else. I have a 8 month pregnant wife though, so I can try my theories out in the real world soon, ha.



That's what I'm hoping is true. This way you at least have some control.

hehe you said "taint"

[Table 5]

This is probably a good way to keep your unruly kid at bay and immobolized.

[Russic]

In my opinion I don't see anything wrong with a little bribery here. The OP says he hates bribery, so it's not as though it's leaching into other behaviours. If you bribe them there is a chance they'll see if they can elicit a bribe elsewhere (kids are basically raptors testing the fences). Once they realize it doesn't work that way they move on pretty quickly. People get quite worried about reinforcement, but it's important to keep in mind it works both ways.

[jammies]

Obligatory "in the old days, my fear of my father whalin' the tobacco out of me was so much greater than my fear of getting a needle, that I wouldn't have dreamt of complaining. Besides which, we used to take fallen tree branches and put out each other's eyes with them for fun, so a little ol' needle was no big deal."