Drs appts

As your child gets older, do you prepare them for the appt or just go in without them knowing what is about to happen? (shots, eyes dialated etc...).
My biggest concern is that I have to take dd to her bi annual eye appt and she knows what happened and freaked out on the last appt. Do I tell her we are going to be going there and prepare her the day of or do I just get there and have her freak out? I am nervous...

Re: Drs appts

I'm not sure what the "right" thing to do is but I usually play dumb when DD asks if she's getting a shot. I tell her I'm not sure but we can ask the doctor

Re: Drs appts

I have always said that they will get shots. but now when my older son goes to the doctor he says - "no shots until college right?" and the doc laughs.

I'm going to be in trouble if/when he needs a tetnus shot, steroid shot or another EPI pen!!

Re: Drs appts

Depends on the child. I prepare them as we're on the way there so they don't build it up in their minds.

That shot seems a lot bigger the night before. I may tell them "it's a quick pinch & then you are all done." We can ice it if you want but it's very quick.

If it's something more severe than a shot, I may not say anything. Like when they were going to cut out a plantar's wart - I used the word scraped. When I wasn't sure if they were going to have to drain a hand that was swollen more than twice it's size, I didn't say anything.

Re: Drs appts

I usually tell them the day before that they have an appointment. If its something out of the ordinary - I will talk to them about it but just in casual conversation - don't make a big deal about. You do not want to freak them out.