Why do children feel uneasy at the paediatrician?

Facing a new situation is an emotional challenge for children. On top of that, a sick child is often especially in need of closeness and reassurance. In this situation it seeks comfort from people it trusts and naturally reacts more sensitively. The younger the patient, the more unfamiliar the situation and often the greater the reserve towards the doctor and the apprehension of the instruments. Even the prospect of a vaccination or a blood test — even if it's "only" a "small" prick — doesn't always make a visit to the paediatrician easy and can sometimes make the parents nervous, too.

How can a visit to the doctor be a relaxed experience for your child?

The more familiar children are with a new situation, the less uncertainty there is and the more receptive they will be during treatment. And the best way to achieve this is through play. In a variety of play situations your child can become acquainted with what there is to discover in a paediatrician's practice and with the instruments used to examine both large and small patients there.

Picture books about visits to the paediatrician already show even the very young what happens during an examination and what to expect at their paediatrician's practice. In joint role-play you, as parents, can take on the role of the doctor and show your child in a familiar setting how simple and perhaps even exciting such an examination can be. A small tissue bandage or a pretty children's plaster on the upper arm as proof of the successful examination will make children proud and give them confidence for the next visit to the doctor. With their own doctor's case, children can also become doctors themselves, familiarise themselves with instruments such as a stethoscope and an otoscope and practise on their cuddly toys, cloth dolls or Little-Friends-Figuren how to listen to the heart, look into the ears or take a temperature.

Age-appropriate paediatric role-play games can also give children an insight into the everyday life of a paediatric practice and familiarise them with the instruments and examinations they will experience themselves at their next visit to the paediatrician.

The better children are familiar with a new situation, the less uncertain they feel and the more receptive they will be during treatment. And this works best through play. In various play situations your child can become familiar with what there is to discover in a doctor's practice and with the instruments used to examine children of all ages.

Picture books about the paediatrician show even the very young what happens during an examination and what to expect at their paediatrician's practice. In shared role-play sessions, you as parents can step into the role of the paediatrician and show your child in a familiar setting how simple and perhaps even exciting such an examination can be. A small tissue dressing or a pretty children's plaster on the upper arm as a token of a successful examination will make children proud and give them confidence for the next visit to the doctor. With their own doctor's kit, children can also become doctors themselves, familiarise themselves with instruments such as the stethoscope and otoscope, and practise on their cuddly toys, cloth dolls or Little-Friends-Figuren how to listen to the heart, look into the ears or take a temperature.

Age-appropriate doctor games can also give children an insight into the everyday life of a doctor's practice and familiarise them with instruments and examinations they themselves will experience at their next visit to the paediatrician.

How can you prepare as parents?

Children behave intuitively. In other words, if you show trust in the doctor your child will pick up on it, and if you remain calm in the situation it will soothe them. Good preparation also helps you as parents to approach the next paediatric appointment with greater composure. If possible, organise the day before what you'll need for the visit and what will calm or distract your child in stressful moments. That brings you inner calm and the reassurance that you've thought of everything.

If your health insurance card, child health record and vaccination record are ready in your bag, it saves time at reception. If your child is bored or restless in the waiting room, their favourite book, a toy or a comfort item from home can bring a bit of familiar surroundings and help to calm them. To be prepared for all eventualities during the examination, keep a spare nappy and easy-to-change clothes to hand, bring your own blanket or cloth nappy to place underneath, and, if necessary, keep your child's favourite dummy within easy reach.

Checklist

For the paediatrician:

• Health insurance card

• Child health record

• Vaccination record

For the waiting room:

• Favourite book

• Favourite toy

• Comfort blanket or cuddly toy

For the examination:

• Clothing that is easy to put on and take off

• Blanket for laying underneath or for keeping warm

• Spare nappy

• Dummy to soothe if needed

4 tips for your paediatric appointment

Talk about it

The better your child understands what to expect at the paediatrician, the more concrete the upcoming experience will be and the less uncertainty they will feel.

Foster trust through play

Children process experiences and feelings best through play. They can pretend to be the doctor and practise for the next appointment with fun role-play games in a relaxed setting.

Bring your child to doctor appointments

Your own check-ups at the family doctor or dentist give your child a glimpse into an adult doctor's practice and show how pleasant and perhaps even exciting such an examination can be.

Take good care of yourself

A visit to the paediatrician can also be a challenge for parents. Take the necessary precautions so you can approach the appointment as calmly as possible, and keep your expectations modest. Your calm will rub off on your child.