Children's medical fears

At the surgery

Most children only go to the doctor's surgery when they're sick or need an injection. Is it any wonder, then, that they're less than keen to go again?

Taking your child along to one of your own appointments is a good way of introducing them to the doctor's surgery and play area, and showing them it's not only bad things that happen there. However, your own calm behaviour matters here, so only do this when you have a routine appointment not when you're in pain or distressed, as the child will sense this.

Let your child take along one or two of their own toys or books, too. This will build up their confidence and help to keep their mind off where they are.

In the consultation itself, talking to a child about a toy is a good way for the GP to gain the child's trust and begin developing a relationship with them.

Playing with toy medical kit at home can also help children learn what to expect when they see the doctor. In this way, a child will often be keen to be examined rather than frightened. Let them practice being the doctor on you, and vice versa - shining a torchlight in your mouth or listening to your heart with a toy stethoscope is a good way to start

Children and needles at the surgery

When it comes to giving babies their immunisations, it's often parents who are most worried and upset. Try to be calm or get your partner or another relative to take them as the baby can sense your tension or fear. Distracting a small infant with their favourite toy or just keeping its attention by chatting quietly to your baby may be enough.

Preschool children are a different matter and preparation at home is vital. It can help to talk through what will happen, perhaps with the help of a children's book written specifically for this purpose.

Teddy, or another favourite toy, can also be a source of encouragement and can have an injection first. If you also need an immunisation, for an upcoming holiday perhaps, you could have yours first to show your child how 'brave' you are, as long as you too take it calmly and aren't panicking.

It's often the practice nurse who gives children their immunisations. This is because most injections in general practice are done by the nurse, but it also helps maintain a doctor's good relationship with the child, preventing them becoming the 'nasty doctor' who gave the child their injection.

Don't forget to reward your child for having an injection without making a fuss. The nurse often has a choice of stickers to offer the child as a reward.

Giving children medicine

Even if a medicine is a nice colour and flavour, you may find your child still refuses to take it. A spoonful of sugar is no longer recommended to help the medicine go down, so what else can you do?

• Give the medicine on your child's favourite spoon - the correct amount can be measured with the medicine spoon and transferred to a spoon your child is familiar and happy with.
• Take some of their favourite fruit with you for them to eat afterwards to take the taste away.
• Use a small syringe to give the medicine straight into the mouth - these are available from a pharmacist and are particularly helpful for babies.
• Ask the doctor if the medicine comes in suppository form - many medicines do and although giving medicines in this way isn't common in the UK, in many countries it's the preferred form.
• Disguise the medicines in food - it's possible for some medicines to be given this way, but always check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
• Bribery such as the offer of playing their favourite game or activity, or playing a DVD, afterwards may work to distract older children.
• For some injections or blood taking it may be possible to have local anaesthetic cream applied beforehand which numbs the pain of the needle. Ask the nurse if they use this in your surgery.