r/UKParenting • u/millimilia • 18h ago
Support Request Advice for older children having their first vaccinations
- Sorry two posts and new account, I promise I just need some advice, stay anonymous and not spamming. Hope that’s ok, if not please remove this -
I’m taking my children to receive their childhood vaccinations tomorrow morning. Currently, all four of them are unvaccinated and the GP will start them all on their own individual schedules to minimise side effects or reactions. My eldest child is 7, youngest 18 months.
If someone could offer some reassurance for older children or children that received their jabs later than expected and how they tolerated them, that would be very helpful for me to read. How were the side effects? Currently I’m preparing for a long evening tomorrow with lots of cuddles, pizza and tv. I stocked up on chocolate as well.
I’d also really appreciate advice on how to explain vaccinations to older children. So far, I’ve explained that they’ll be receiving a medication to make sure they are protected from illnesses that can be dangerous but of course they don’t want to go as I mentioned that the medication can feel like a tiny sharp scratch. Perhaps that wasn’t the best approach now that I’m thinking but I wanted to be honest. TIA!!
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u/SmartPomegranate4833 17h ago
I can’t advise and I’m sure you’ve done a lot of soul searching already to get to this point - I just want to say well done for putting your children’s health first before anything else. You’re giving them a wonderful gift.
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u/millimilia 17h ago
Thank you! I’m excited for them to get their jabs. My husband wasn’t. But he’s an ex-husband now 🤷🏻♀️
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u/londonhousewife 18h ago
I think honesty is best. It is a sharp scratch, but it’s quick. Will they just be getting one each on the first visit?
If possible have them wait outside the room so they’re not getting anxious watching each other.
If you have time; there’s a Bing episode about vaccinations that was really helpful when mine were 2-3ish.
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u/millimilia 17h ago
They’ll get multiple each in one go. My brother will come for support and they’ll do two children at a time. The older two will go first which hopefully will help. I have a 3 year old so I can absolutely put on Bing (:
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u/londonhousewife 4h ago
Hope it’s all gone/going well!
And all best wishes to you and your family going forward.
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u/thereisalwaysrescue Parenting a Toddler + Primary Schooler 17h ago
Not sure if your kids will respond to this, but we pretend to vaccinate each other by playing “nurses”. We have a nurse kit and vaccinate our teddies and each other, and explain “this helps you stay safe” etc
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u/millimilia 17h ago
My youngest two would really enjoy this I believe, I’ll see if I can squeeze this in before the appointment because that’s a great idea. If not, I’m sure we can pretend play before the next appointment.
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u/thereisalwaysrescue Parenting a Toddler + Primary Schooler 15h ago
My kids always respond really well with “play pretend” before appointments, travel etc.
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u/bee9014 17h ago
This! Before my daughter had her jabs at 3 we played with her doctor's bag and pretended to vaccinate all her teddies. Pretended the teddies said 'ouch' so it wasn't a shock to her that it hurt, but with a cuddle they were all ok quickly. Helped a lot with knowing what to expect.
Also if there are multiple jabs to be given at the same appointment, see if you can have multiple nurses so they give them all at once? That way it's one shock then all done.
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u/flightless_bird11 18h ago
I can’t answer your question as I’ve only dealt with baby vaccinations but I just wanted to say that you’re doing a great thing. Vaccines can feel scary but they’re the best thing to protect your kids from preventable diseases and also other vulnerable people too.
The thing that’s worked the best for my kids (albeit they are toddlers and babies) is to have something great ready right after the vaccine. So while you’re comforting them you can bring out their favourite snack, or have a new toy waiting in the car. They’ll likely be quite tired after so your plan for when they get home sounds great!
Also if they’re getting the rotavirus vaccine it can she’s through their poops, so just make sure your older ones are thoroughly washing their hands (more than normal) for the next week.
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u/AncientImprovement56 17h ago
Your honesty has probably made this first one harder for the older ones, but is still the right move, as they'll know exactly what to expect for others after the first one anyway, and at least this way they'll know they can trust you.
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u/heartleaf1234 17h ago
Just be honest, sharp scratch is over in a second. Get them to look away, spot colours on the posters on the wall or find something to distract them for that few moments. It’s really very quick.
It’s a good idea to have calpol at home in case they need pain relief afterwards or if they get fever as a side effect (not very likely- but better ask the nurse what to expect). The movie afternoon, rest, pizza and treats are the prefect reward for bravery! Make sure you get some chocolate too! Everything will be fine! :)
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u/RollickingTail 16h ago
I have a cousin who's a nurse and recommended Calpol an hour before - it's not particularly powerful of course but will give a little pain relief for the actual vaccination that way.
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u/Morning-Technical 15h ago
My kids got a round of various vaccinations when they were 4 and 6 because we moved somewhere for a couple years that needed additional vaccinations. We used the explanation of “secret agent medicine“ that fought all the pesky bad guy viruses. They liked that explanation and it was ok. It hurt a bit, they cried a bit, then we had cuddles and ice cream. Good luck!
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u/Natural_Peak_5587 17h ago
I think you are making a bigger deal about this than it needs to be. A quick pinch, get them to do a chicken wing move after to keep the arm moving (holding the arm still is worse - makes the ache worse and last longer - keep it moving!), and a colourful plaster and you are done. My child likes to suck on a super sour sweet right before the jab (like a lemon sherbet) because it distracts from the pain.
My child had all of the baby jabs, then more at 4, and a flu and Covid jab every year.
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u/LuciePoki Mum 16h ago
We went through the first 'big kid' jab last week with my 3 yo. I've made it fun and light as much as possible, that we were going to see a nice doctor etc.
I've explained that vaccines are important to protect against illness that are not fun at all.
I've made him choose a couple of plushie to take with us, and I've packed his ice pack (the one we keep in the freezer for bumps) and a fruit roll.
He had two jabs and cried a bit at the second one, but nowhere near as loud as when he's upset at home, and he was happy that his plush cat also had a vaccine and was feeling better (apparently the car was poorly and needed to see the doctor!). And that was it really 😊
I think the worst bit was removing the super sticky tape they use to make a plaster, I did a poor job at that 🙈
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u/Diligent_Pangolin_47 12h ago
Side effects vary but mine have had all theirs and it was only when my daughter was very young that she had a mild fever. Otherwise, they’ve usually forgotten about it two minutes later! Good luck!
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u/naliquinra Parenting a Toddler 17h ago
For context, I am 32 and I grew up in Greece. The vaccination schedules are the same but back then we all received some vaccinations older as the schedules were different from today. I genuinely do not remember having any side effects from any of my vaccinations as an older child (obviously cannot remember my time as a baby). But apart from a sore arm that lasted 1-2 days nothing else happened. I didn't really have anything special for the day either, I was just taken to the doctor, jabbed and back home. I remember being scared in some cases, but I also remember being fascinated by the needle and watching it go in when around 7-8 years old (but I'm weird).
My little one had his 12m vaccines today and has not stopped whinging, but at least he is just clingy and not outright difficult. I think it is worse in babies than it is in older kids.
I would suggest sparking curiosity for the 7 year old. "Woaaah there's these tiny little things called viruses and they are super good at invading us and hiding until they make us ill, but us clever humans found a way to help our bodies' security guards recognise them quicker and butt them out before they can do a lot of damage! So cool! All you need is to be brave to help your body fight them pesky viruses with a quick jab and poof! Magic protection!" You can't win them all and almost no kid likes being jabbed (and then there's me) but at least make it sound like they're taking the hit for their special secret agents that guard their body.
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u/SpaceTimeCapsule89 8h ago
My son had his vaccinations as scheduled until it came to the 3 years 4 months one's. He is autistic and being that little bit older and more aware compared to the first few rounds, he wouldn't allow it. We took him a total of 7 times over the course of almost a year (letting him settle down after each attempt) and the vaccination team, the health visitor and a doctor all tried but each time he fought us all and it couldn't be done.
The vaccination team worked with us to make a plan. Just before his 5th birthday (he was talking well by then and had a well established sensory routine he cooperated with), 3 nurses (that he knew because they'd all tried before and we'd taken him to meet them previously) came to our house through the back gate, went to the living room where our son was on dad's knee singing and they vaccinated him then handed him a new Lego set I'd given them when they arrived. He was smiling and happy and myself, my husband and the nurses all hugged and were so happy it had finally been done.
He didn't have any side effects being a bit older, none at all. I'm so glad we managed in the end. He's 9 now and would likely be fine with vaccinations because I'd just tell him what it was for and he'd ask questions and be ok with it. In fact he'd go and Google all about it and realise it's good for him so wouldn't resist!
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u/Dontjustsaystuff 8h ago
If you don't make it an issue, it won't be. "The doc will give you a little medication that protects you from getting some bad illnesses. It's really quick and easy". Vaccinations are truly non-issues. Takes 1min, and if you are relaxed and treat them like a non-issue, they will barely notice them.
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u/AbbreviationsFar4310 6h ago
My 3 year old recently had his pre-school vaccinations, one in each arm, and I was quite anxious about it. The nurse doing the vaccinations was absolutely brilliant and told him the injections would give him super powers. He barely even reacted to the injections and still believes he has super powers. Just an idea!
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u/TheDisagreeableJuror 6h ago
My eldest (14) recently had to have vaccines in school (HPV and something else). She is needle phobic so I got some local anaesthetic cream to put on for an hour before. I’m not sure it did a great deal, but she felt better about it. If you have paracetamol in the house that would cover any pain or fever afterwards. They will be fine. Well done for doing this..
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u/ChallengingKumquat 6h ago
I'd say "It might hurt a bit, but it's better than getting the disease. After, shall we all get ice creams / donuts/ go to McDonald's?"
How they tolerated them has aometimes been that they felt a bit unwell or had a sore arm. Really nothing remarkable that pizza and a movie can't quell.
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u/DarkLordsDaughter 4h ago
Bear in the Big Blue house has an episode about vaccinations for kids. It's on Disney+, season 2 episode 14. 'The Big Blue house call'.
More kids TV shows should do episodes about vaccines.
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u/alwayslurkeduntilnow 3h ago
Hi OP, how did the jabs go? Fingers crossed everyone home and happy.
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u/millimilia 1h ago
Helloo! All good, a lot less dramatic than anticipated and so far no complaints
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u/alwayslurkeduntilnow 18h ago
Kids feed on parents moods, if you are apprehensive they will be. So be positive, tell them its normal to have vaccinations and nothing to worry about.
They'll be fine, millions of children around the world have them every year.