why [not] flumist? it is an equally effective (some studies say "more effective") flu vaccine that can be sprayed in the nose. no needles. when i do have to negotiate with a reluctant child about a shot i do a few things: 1. i give them choices. they can have one shot (assuming they only need one) or two! 2. i can give them a "booster" instead of a shot. (it is the same thing but the word booster sounds less painful! ) 3. they can get it in their arm or leg where it doesn't hurt very much or their eye! (of course we don't do eye shots so this becomes an easy choice. 4. i tell them this: "i am not supposed to do this but if you don't tell anyone i will use the little tiny baby needle. the one we use for infants instead of the big-person needle. how about that? " 5. and finally. "if this little "booster" hurts you tell the nurse right away and she will take it out immediately! " (of course she is going to do that anyway. ) the games we play. "convince" a reluctant "child" to get a flu shot? who is the adult and who is the child. there's no convincing a child. i've seen bribery done. if it was my situation the child would have learned right from the beginning that sometimes we must do things that aren't the most pleasant but will be over soon. never lie to a child and say it won't hurt. there was one thing i taught and allowed my children to do for a shot: either alone or accompanied by me to sing as loud as possible happy birthday. it always worked and they always wanted me to sing along loud. of course the dr. was warned first.
how can i convince a reluctant child to get a flu shot?