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doc phobia solved tear-free checkups by sarah lyons t he average
child
will have nine well visits in her first two years of life, and at least one checkup every year after. for
kids
who tend to worry and even fear going to the
doctor
, this can be scary. there are a few things parents can do to calm the fears of
kids
who have an upcoming checkup. discuss what can happen prior to the appointment, talk to your
child
about what to expect. be open and honest about what will happen at the appointment and why. ?we talk about everything that may happen, good and scary.? says sara sinani, mom of three boys. ?i feel it helps them prepare emotionally and keeps the image of the
doctor
as a ?helper? rather than someone to be feared.? dr. robert drumm, a pediatrician at the baton rouge clinic, shares that for some patients, allowing him or her to sit on the parent?s lap will help make things more comfortable for the
child
. he adds, ?if possible, mom or dad should try to be present at the appointment, at least until a good relationship has been established between the
child
and the
doctor
.? also, ask your
child
if she has any questions or concerns. be honest and tell the truth so she knows what to expect, even if it is something unpleasant, like shots. ?we encourage our
kids
to ask us, the nurses, or
doctor
s in order to get the info they need to feel comfortable? says sinani. the more information your
child
has, the more comfortable she will feel. roleplay playing
doctor
is not only fun for
kids
, but it?s also a great way to get themselves more comfortable with the idea of visiting the
doctor
. tara sayers, a school nurse and mom of two says, ?i always buy
kids
?
doctor
kits? for their first birthdays.? she also suggests letting them touch the equipment themselves prior to someone else using it on them. becky asher, mom of triplet boys, suggests checking out library books about visiting the
doctor
or watching
child
ren?s videos like daniel tiger or doc mcstuffins to help
kids
learn what to expect from a
doctor
visit. role playing helps
kids
act out their fears and concerns as well as become more comfortable with new situations. come prepared when the day of the checkup arrives, try to be as prepared as possible. pack items that will entertain your
child
if she has to wait, such as books, small toys, coloring books, and crayons, or a tablet if wifi is available at the
doctor
?s office. dr. drumm says, ?let your
child
bring his or her favorite stuffed animal. usually, i will do the exam on the stuffed animal first to help alleviate any fears. or, if an older sibling is there, i will do the exam on the sibling first so the
child
will feel more comfortable.? you can also check with the office to see if snacks are allowed before bringing one. some offices to do not allow snacks due to risk of allergies in other patients. you might also consider bringing pain medication, like tylenol, to give after shots are administered. it?s best to wait until after the visit because an accurate temperature must be recorded prior to vaccines, and painkillers mask a fever if your
child
has one. it?s also important for the parent to be calm and supportive through the checkup.
child
ren can sense our fears and 2 8 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9
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