My child is afraid of visiting the doctor, what should I do?

The child's crying and tantrums are frequent with every visit to the doctor, and the mother doesn't know how to react. The doctor needs an opportunity to examine the child and prescribe the appropriate medication. Given that parenting requires a lot of patience and attempts to convince the child in indirect ways, the following lines offer suggested solutions:

1- Don't scare your child by sending him to the doctor in case he is punished, as if this visit is terrifying and frightening as a result of a wrong action he committed, because he will associate it with the frightening and unsafe place.

2- Do not change the doctor constantly. Try to choose a trusted family doctor, and over time your child will get used to him, instead of changing the doctor frequently, which will make the child feel afraid and unfamiliar with him.

3- Buy your child a doctor toy, such as a stethoscope, thermometer, and other tools used by doctors, and play the game with him from time to time by acting and reversing roles.

4- Understand the child’s nervousness about the visit, and you can take his favorite toy with him to make him feel safe.

5- Be by his side, holding his hand while the doctor examines him. Do not show anxiety or tension so that he does not transmit this feeling.

6- Praise his courage and talk about it in front of the doctor so that he feels proud of himself.

7-You can promise the child that he will get a reward after visiting the doctor, such as his favorite candy.

8- Choose a calm doctor who is skilled at dealing with children. Often, part of the solution to the problem lies in the doctor’s hands. He must understand the nature of children and gain their love instead of fear and panic.

9- From time to time, talk to your child about the role of some brave professions that help us, and explain to him the role that a doctor plays in alleviating pain and suffering.

10- If the little one needs an injection, do not lie to him that it does not hurt because he will not trust you after that, but encourage him that he is strong and hug him and do not use the injection as a means of intimidation such as saying: If you do not finish your food, you will have an injection, because if he needs to take an injection later, it will be a disaster for him.