Your Kid and Needles

[photon]

Originally Posted by 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.

Basically this. If the bribery isn't happening everywhere and only happens in the rarest of circumstances (needles, bodily harm situations) then it's not going to spoil them.

And bribes can be done so that they don't look like bribes and don't serve to reinforce "bad behaviour = I get stuff".

When my kid was younger if we were going grocery shopping I'd let him pick out a book (they always have them on sale, I like to encourage reading so he has almost carte blanche when it comes to buying books, and it keeps him occupied as well). Then if he's starting to misbehave or whatever I ask if he wants to put the book back or keep it.

It's a bribe basically, but rather than reinforce bad behaviour gets stuff it does the opposite, teaching consequences and such.

EDIT: Now for doctor stuff I don't have to do much, now I just pity the doctor as my son talks his ear off about bacteria and microbes and asks a bazillion questions since he's got someone who knows science cornered for 10 minutes.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

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

I hate needles also. If I have to give blood I always hope I get a pretty nurse that can distract me.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Dion

I hate needles also. If I have to give blood I always hope I get a pretty nurse that can distract me.

ah porn......you are our saviour

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Table 5

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

You have some place that sells those?

I will take 3.

[Rathji]

I gave a blood sample in grade 7, it took 5 nurses to hold me down and another to draw the blood. 2 years later, I was getting shots in school and was calm.

Now, I donate blood as often as I can.

I guess, worst case, you hope your kid grows out of it sooner than I did.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Iginla

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.

Most 6 year old kids throw tantrums.... when they don't get something they really want or they have to do something they really don't want to.

Maybe the OP's child is different in this aspect.. but I was reading between the lines of the OP.

Nothing at all wrong in disciplining a child who refuses to do want you want them to do. As a parent , you are the boss in the family and its your job to decide and enforce whats best for the child... not the other way around.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ahh the good ole days when good parentin' was punching your kid in the face.

Never got punched (which my parents would never do) but I did get a few lickins with a belt on the behind.

[habernac]

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.

Being afraid of needles isn't bad behavior. It's fear.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by habernac

Being afraid of needles isn't bad behavior. It's fear.

You are right. But if its fear, why does the fear go away with bribery? If the problem is fear I doubt a simple bribe would make it go away.

Or perhaps that child just dislikes getting a shot (and why not... it hurts for a second) and the bribe makes it worthwhile to him or her to do it, even though they dislike it. Soon the child learns that if you put up a big enough stink about something, you'll get a reward.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by habernac

Being afraid of needles isn't bad behavior. It's fear.

If anything, being afraid of needles is good behavior. I feel like a girl when they need to give me smelling salts after I give blood, but at least I'll never consider trying heroin.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by gargamel

If anything, being afraid of needles is good behavior. I feel like a girl when they need to give me smelling salts after I give blood, but at least I'll never consider trying heroin.

Really, wow, it true good for you for still giving blood..

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by gargamel

If anything, being afraid of needles is good behavior. I feel like a girl when they need to give me smelling salts after I give blood, but at least I'll never consider trying heroin.

Good... stick to the drugs you can snort or smoke.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Good... stick to the drugs you can snort or smoke.

or up the bum like Ron Wood.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by fotze

Huh?

Sorry had an rectum full of coke.

Meant to say if true good for you for still giving blood.....

[stang]

My child knows when it's needle time she needs to be brave. She gets rewarded for being brave. Last time she didn't cry and was pretty proud to tell her mom that. Plus I take her out after as a reward for being brave. Usually ice cream

Edit: do what works for your kid. You know them. My kids are very well behaved. I also have no issue with an occasional bribe for out of the ordinary stuff

[photon]

Originally Posted by Rerun

You are right. But if its fear, why does the fear go away with bribery? If the problem is fear I doubt a simple bribe would make it go away.

Um, there are entire TV shows built on the premise of using bribery to make someone do something contrary to their fears.

It's a question of how big is the fear. For some kids the needle fear is so great that no bribery would work, for those the person giving the shot will show you a great hold that will immobilize them while they scream their lungs out.

[ma-skis.com]

Needle Update Time:

Before hand, we had already explained how good needles are for you, and what vaccines were etc. he like the idea of his body fighting dead bugs in his body now.

on the way there we went with the iPad to distract him from thinking about the needle right up until it was time for action. (although in the waiting room, as he was waiting for his turn in worms, he'd look up nervously until it was his turn again)

In the room, he started whining, and was reluctantly cooperative. Doctor figured it out quick, stuck him fast, and he took it like a champ.

Went for pie afterwards, and told him (he also knew about this beforehand, this was the major bribe essentially) since he did such a good job, we could tell Santa he was probably ready to get a wii. (And our rationalization, we had already planned to get him one, so not that big of a bribe)

so... success i guess?? hopefully I am not raising a bad kid by bribing him. We did make clear that now that he can do it so easily, next time, it is just normal and he won't get the same things for growing up and doing big boy stuff.

Anyways, thanks to all of you with kids for the advice, thanks to all of you without kids for the entertainment. (actually, thanks everyone for your 2 cents, always appreciated on CP)

[ma-skis.com]

Originally Posted by photon

It's a question of how big is the fear. For some kids the needle fear is so great that no bribery would work, for those the person giving the shot will show you a great hold that will immobilize them while they scream their lungs out.

I got him in that hold as soon as we got in the room, but didn't need to hold it anywhere near as tight as I did last time.

(actually the first time i got taught that hold, I wasn't holding him anywhere hard enough... geez, first time dad mistake right there)

[doctajones428]

What kid doesn't hate needles?

I used to be horrified of needles, and when I was "numbing cream" did the trick. I'm not sure if the cream was legit or a placebo effect (the lab tech would apply it), but it made me not worry about the impending stabbing

Also, bribe the kid, at least until they realize needles are not that bad at all

[csnarpy]

All kids are different and react to different things equally. My 3yr old son couldn't care less about needles but try to cut one hair off his head....

My 20 month old daughter is basically "meh, whatever" to everything.