Doctor phobia

[Lochie]

Am hoping someone maybe able to offer some advice/hints on how to manage my son's trauma when he visits the doctor. He is 3.5 yo. Am sure this is not unusual, but the last few trips we've been the doctor/nurse has suggested his reaction is extreme.

E.g. I took him today, he has an awful cough which has been hanging around for a few weeks. He wouldn't even let the nurse check his chest with stethoscope, have ears checked, temp taken or glands checked. So a wasted journey. The appt was a double appt so not rushed in anyway, and the nurse was lovely.

Problem also extends to unwillingness to take calpol or any medication from me. So I have been unable to treat any fevers for zonks now.

He is a healthy boy and visits to the doctors are rare, however he has reacted this way for a few years so it is a problem.

Any books anyone can recommend to persuade him the doc is not a monster? Or any tips generally?!!

[bizzylizzy]

could he watch a few episodes of Get well soon on cbeebies? Dr Ranj is great!

[alice]

get him a mini doctors outfit stethoscope etc and he could check you out

[susyp]

I had this with my daughter for a time , when she was just over 4, i found that reading lots of book from the library about doctors, watching get well soon, and pointing out people that we know who are doctors (lucky there) helped - basically a lot of education! She used to run around the surgery screaming- so it was quite extreme. Also helped trying different doctors - we found a lady who was nice and good with her. She tolerates it now I would say!

susypx

[Lochie]

thanks guys, i've ordered him a doctor's kit. Fingers crossed.... ;-)

[Knomester]

Lochie, there is also a lovely Usborne book about going to the doctor which my sister bought for our toddler to go with the doctor's kit she bought him for Christmas. I wouldn't have thought to buy it, but he loves reading it and I think along with the doctor's kit is one of the reasons he is fine with visits to the doctor. He even pulls his own top up for the stethoscope!

The situation is very different at the dentist where he screams, legs it out of the room given half a chance and clamps his mouth firmly shut...

[Lochie]

Thank you knomester, I think I have just found it on Amazon - 'Going to the Doctors'. It looks great.

We have never been to the dentist as my son screams whenever I mention it and even when a dentist from Kings visited his nursery last week he wouldn't even let them count his teeth!!! SIGH.

Perhaps the bigger issue is his complete and absolute stubborness but not sure how to cure that! :-(