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advice on giving a child shots (growth hormone)?

Any parents out there who have to administer shots on their young children? My daughter is being worked up for growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Her blood work has come back abnormal and she essentially hasn't grown or has grown very little in the last year and a half. We'll see the doctor again in a few months and probably have to face the decision of whether or not to give her GH. GH can only be administered through an injection given at least 3-5 times per week. That means my husband and I would have to give them. She is only 4 and is scared to death of shots when we go to the doctor's office. I need advice from other parents or references on how best to do it. I don't mean how to physically administer the shot--I mean what's the best way emotionally to break it to her (if and when the time comes, of course)? How can we ease her fears? Should we give rewards? How do we explain it to her? If you have to give your child shots, please tell me what worked and what didn't!

Public Comments

1. well im going through the same experience with my little brother. your daughter sounds like what my brother is going through.
2. My daughter was the same, she has diabetes and we have to check her blood sugar everyday and give her insulin as needed. It was hard for her at first, but after the first few shots it was easier. I made sure to practice before trying on her (I use a salami) to get use to the needle, the injection, etc. I don't let her watch TV except shot time. She gets to watch a half an hour of Sponge Bob Square Pants. This made it easier for her. Good luck. I know its hard. The Sponge Bob, telling her what a big brave girl she was, and letter her practice on the Salami too helped.
3. i am srry to hear about your daughter! i have to give my son shots (he is diabetic) 5 times a day, and have been doing so for about 4 1/2 yrs. I had to start giving them when he was 2 1/2yrs. old. at first he did not like them and would fight me and it would end up someone holding him down so i could give the shot. it took about a week for him to stop fighting me. i would turn on tv and while his show was on i would give it then or we would count together. he will tell you that it still stings but he knows that he needs them. but a reward system sounds great, for every time that she holds still give her a special treat or give her stars and for so many stars she gets you guys do something special. good luck and i hope that i have helped. oh and from experience legs or butt worked for my lil boy as far as feeling less pain:)
4. Difficult situation. You have to make a decision about your daughters growth pattern. Would you consider her "of pathologically short stature"? We were faced with a similar choice as all of our 3 kids were in the 5th percentile of height/weight. We chose to let their growth run it's natural course, particularly given my own history of being "little" but ending up 5'10" 220lbs. In OUR case they seem to be growing on a normal curve from their smaller starting point, but of course your situation may be entirely different. There is a case for "cosmetic" administration of HGH but we decided that as long as our little ones weren't "pathological" we'd allow our brave little toasters to grow to their own pace. Family history also supported that choice, your mileage may vary. With respect to talking about injections, if I were looking for an approach I would want to think about discussions on web sites for conditions that necessitate frequent injections, such as childhood diabetes.