Today a 4-year-old informed me that the glitter dinosaur sticker is the “medicine” that makes shots not hurt, and I didn’t have the heart to break the spell. As a pediatric NP, I lean into the magic when it helps kiddos feel brave and helps parents exhale for a minute — anyone else have hilarious kid logic that turned into your best coping tool? If we’re talking anything more than giggles and nerves, please check in with your own clinician.
But i started giving a “bravery receipt” — a stamped sticky note kids get after vaccines — so they can trade their glitter dino “medicine” sticker for it and show it off at checkout; it weirdly makes them lean in. If I’m out of stickers, a blown-up glove with a doodle face named Dr. Puffy buys me the same smiles.
And > a blown-up glove with a doodle face named Dr. Puffy buys me the same smiles. I carry a tiny laminated three-choice sticker menu kids tap before I swab, then their pick goes on a shoe right after the poke so sleeves don’t steal the magic; if they hesitate, I let them tag my badge first — anyone else team shoe-sticker?