Taking my sons to get vaccinated isn't something I'd categorize as a "fun experience," but I've done it enough times that I feel fairly confident in my abilities to get through vaccinations without mentally breaking down. We've got a routine when it comes to doctor visits now, and appointments for vaccinations have their own specific set of standards. I know it's not just my family that prepares for vaccinations this way, either. The things every mom does when her kids gets vaccinated, things like the regimen I've concocted for my sons' shots, are done to help make something that is typically associated with pain and discomfort, seem slightly less scary for our kids (and parents).
Though the vaccination debate is a heated one, there is an overabundance of evidence that points to vaccines being not only safe, but undeniably necessary. I mean, they literally save lives and eradicate deadly diseases so, you know, they're the stuff, people. Now, just because they're safe doesn't necessarily mean they're pleasant, and it's likely that trying to explain to a baby or a toddler that this little needle that's about to get stuck in their arm is going to help them in the long run, rather than just hurt them a little right now, is going to have little to no effect on the fear or confusion they're probably experiencing.
I spent many years working in clinics, where I wouldn't just keep records of children's vaccinations, I would actually administer them, too. I've also been taking my own children to well-child visits for a few years now, so having been on both sides of the vaccination experience, I've learned a thing or two about how each family handles the process. I've realized that although each family is unique, there are some common denominators among them that are displayed during those dreaded (but very necessary) vaccination appointments.
That said, here are nine things all moms do when her kids get vaccinated.