Many children get anxious and stressed about visiting a doctor, and that is why parents need to prepare them for an upcoming appointment. With the right preparation, you can ensure that your child remains calm and relaxed throughout the visit. It may also stave off any future worries about visiting a pediatrician in Jacksonville FL.

Preparing your child for a pediatrician visit

Let us find out what you can do to help your child prepare for a visit to a pediatrician in Jacksonville FL:

Inform your child of an upcoming appointment

It is essential to inform your child about their upcoming pediatrician appointment at least a day or two in advance. If you tell them too soon, they might forget about it or worry about it for days. If you leave it until the last moment, they might get overly fearful. A day or two is enough to give them time to get used to the idea and compose themselves.

It is also advisable to schedule the visit at a time that suits your child. For instance, a morning appointment might disrupt their sleep if they are a late riser, and an appointment before a meal or a nap might make them cranky due to hunger or tiredness.

Tell your child what will happen during the visit

Not knowing what to expect can frighten many children, so you must tell your child exactly what is likely to happen at the doctor’s office. For instance, you might talk about greeting the receptionist in the reception area, sitting in the waiting room until the pediatrician is ready to see them, getting a checkup in the examination room, and meeting the doctor in their office. You can explain the examination process, such as the nurse or doctor checking their blood pressure, temperature, eyes, ears, throat, heartbeat, stomach, reflexes, height, and weight.

Give honest answers to your child’s questions

If your child asks questions about the visit to the pediatrician in Jacksonville FL, do not lie or gloss over them. You do not want to erode their trust in you and have them feel betrayed later. If it is a routine checkup, explain that is what they will undergo and why. If they are going to get an injection, have their blood drawn, or undergo some painful or embarrassing procedure, it is much better to let them know and help them to build up their courage to face it. Explain that these procedures are to heal them.

Ask your child to help prepare for the visit

Getting your child involved in gathering information about the visit may help ease their anxiety. You can ask them to create a list of their symptoms, compile a list of questions to ask the doctor, list any previous treatments that they have had, and record what worked and what did not. You can visit the pediatrician’s website and read the information there. If possible, you can video call the doctor and have them speak briefly with your child to reassure them.

Build positive associations

You can see kid-friendly videos about pediatric care or about visiting a pediatrician. You can also read books showing how fictional characters stay calm and positive during a doctor’s visit. With younger children, you can act out a doctor and patient role with dolls or teddy bears and toy medical kits. You can help them identify the equipment the pediatrician might use, like a stethoscope or a blood pressure cuff, and show them that there is nothing to fear.

Be calm and unconcerned about the visit

Since your child may take their cue from your behavior, try to keep your anxiety under control before and during the visit. Let your child know that it is routine to visit the pediatrician and that the doctor is there to make sure they are alright and continue to feel well. Remind them that you will be with them the whole time.

Keep them occupied during the visit

Take along a book, a toy, a game, or a puzzle to distract your child or keep them occupied in the waiting room. Have a conversation about things that interest them. Talk about going to have a favorite treat afterward.