When you finally find a pediatrician that is right for you and your child, you might still have to convince your child that visiting the doctor is a good thing. This can be a challenging task for many parents, especially after the trauma of going through vaccinations and other shots. However, it does not have to be overly difficult.
While many children dread visiting the doctor, they can learn to love it. The following are some tips to make a doctor’s visit more enjoyable.
Using Play to Prepare Your Child
One simple way to improve your child’s experience with the doctor is simply by spurring their curiosity. This can be done by buying doctor-related toys such as stethoscopes and Band-Aids that they can use to help “cure” their toys and other people. You might even get involved by playing patient and allowing your child to cure your illness.
When all is said and done, your child will take this experience with them to the doctor. They will start asking questions and wanting answers from a real doctor. The pediatrician will be happy to answer these questions and make your child’s experience more comfortable.
Make Your Child Comfortable
Your child should be comfortable at the doctor’s office. While there’s only so much your doctor can do, it will all come down to how you comfort your child. While it may seem logical to try to have your child power through it, it really does not help.
An honest mistake that most parents make comes from trying to comfort the child by saying things like, “It won’t hurt for long.” Rather, when a child is getting a shot, you should explain why they are getting a shot and the reason behind it. Recognize that it will hurt, but at the same time, provide an explanation that your child can work with.
Build a Relationship with the Pediatrician
This goes as much for the child’s relationship as the parent’s. You should try to find a pediatrician that you can work with effectively. Communicate all concerns and specifics regarding your child before the appointment to be sure your pediatrician is on the same level.
The child should also be happy with the pediatrician. They should be able to talk things out in order to relax any anxieties they may have during their visit. The pediatrician should, in turn, attempt to educate the child on the importance of visiting the doctor.
In following with being informative and educational, the pediatrician should try to educate the child on the reasoning behind different requirements such as vaccinations and checkups. The more your child knows about what is going on, the less they will be afraid.
Your child’s doctor visits do not have to be a total hassle. You can try offering rewards or something to look forward to after the visit in order to coax them into going.
When all is said and done, you should simply find a pediatrician in Westminster that cares for your child as much as you do.
