Before arriving at the flu clinic, prepare your child by telling him exactly what is going to happen. If your child is healthy and does not have asthma, you can ask if he wants a shot or the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Empowering your child by giving him the option of choosing how the vaccine will be administered can make the entire situation less stressful. If he opts for the shot, be honest and say it’s going to hurt, perhaps like a pinch, perhaps a little more. Reassure him that everything is going to be OK. Let him know that the flu shot will help avoid becoming sick.

Once at the flu clinic, reassure your child if she is scared that it’s normal to be scared, and that the process will only take a couple of minutes. Comfort your child by saying, “I’ll hold on to you,” or other reassuring words. It’s important to keep the muscles near the injection site relaxed; that way, the shot will hurt less.