For parents
Your doctor or specialist wants to have a laboratory test done for your child’s blood. Many children find it a bit scary to have a blood sample taken. What exactly is going to happen? Does it hurt? These are all questions that can make a child feel insecure and frightened. A visit to the needle post can also be stressful for you. Below you will find a few tips to prepare your child (and yourself) adequately.
Preparing and distracting
- Tell your child calmly and honestly what is going to happen, so he or she knows what to expect.
- Also explain that the shot can hurt and that it’s perfectly normal to cry for a little while.
- Distract your child’s attention in the waiting room by telling him or her a story or leafing through a picture book together.
- Read a comic book together with older children or let them solve a riddle.
- Take babies and toddlers on your lap during the blood test.
- Take your child’s favorite cuddly toy with you and ask if the toy can get a shot as well. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow!
- Talk a little more about the test. Did it hurt a lot? And give your child a compliment about how brave he/she was.
Gift from LabdeMed
When the nurse is done we give your child a little present because it was so brave. You can also download the nice coloring sheet on this Kids Page. Will you be taking it to the waiting room?
