(Provided photo)

Parents have been asking me some pointed questions as to how to better help their child deal with getting a blood test or injection.

Let me see if I can make this topic a lot less painful for children and parents. and children.

–

Some positive ways to help prepare your child

–

First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge that it is okay for a child or even an adult to be worried about or not like a blood test.

¯ Talk to your child about their fears and acknowledge their frustration. This will make the process less traumatic for everyone.

¯ Tell your child in advance, not too far in advance, but on the day of the visit that they will need a test (and you should call the doctor’s office ahead of time to see if a blood test or injection is planned).

¯ In a matter-of-fact way, stay positive and upbeat. Note that the test or injection will ensure that they stay healthy and not miss fun activities coming up in the days and weeks ahead.

¯ Give your child some control over the situation can help them deal with it — have them pick out which arm they want to use or where they want to sit: on your lap or on the exam table? That being said, there should be no negotiation or choice offered as to whether or not your child wants the test.

¯ Often rubbing a site where blood will be drawn or an injection given with ice in a plastic bag or washcloth can numb the area and may make your child feel better.

¯ Some older children prefer to wear headphones or watch a video during the procedure. It can be helpful to younger children to have them hold onto their special teddy bear or other stuffed animal or doll.

¯ Be friendly with the person doing the blood draw and call them by their first name. This shows your child that this person is a friend and not the enemy.

¯ If your child does well, praise them, and even call friends with your child watching you make the call to let them know how good your child was, which will reinforce this behavior.

¯ If they are not as cooperative, do not make your child feel bad. You still might tell them they did a good job getting this done.

¯ Promise a pleasant consequence such as a trip to the playground or getting an extra book read that night for good behavior.

If despite these suggestions, your child continues to be quite needle-phobic, talk to your child’s health care professional before that next visit for some other ideas.

One such idea might be for your child to have a numbing cream applied to the site of the blood test or injection before it occurs. This requires about 30 to 40 minutes to work but can reduce discomfort, especially if your child needs a lot of blood tests on a more frequent basis.

Hopefully, tips and not just needle tips like these will inject just the right amount of assistance when it comes to helping your child get through a blood test or injection.

— — —

Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at the Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and MyNBC 5.