https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:57:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2647183 Thu, 03 Nov 2016 09:26:59 +0000 Anagram 2647183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3 year old has had a few blood draws from her arm to check her Vitamin D levels and Iron, because they were both low at 1 year. She didn't cry at the 2 year or the 3 year appointment--she's weirdly fascinated by needles and what they do, so she likes to watch the whole time.</p> <p>She also begs to go with me when I have to get a blood draw or shot, or when I have to take LO2 for shots. And she plays "shots" at home and pretend to give us shots.</p> <p>I think I've helped a little by always telling everyone how much she loves getting shots and blood drawn. She announced it when we went for the flu shot: "I love shots, right mommy?" hahaha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646936 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 18:45:05 +0000 matador84 2646936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had a nightmare blood draw for the first time with my 4 year old. Everything up until this point has been a finger prick and this was out of his arm.</p> <p>For the next blood draw I am going to make sure and ask for someone who is experienced with children. Second, I am going to bring a toy that I've pre-purchased that he can have after it's over because I think the trauma of the first one has now made him terrified of doctors/nurses/medical staff--a fear he never had before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646722 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 12:07:06 +0000 Mrs D 2646722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you ladies all for the input! I've made notes and am going to schedule her appointment so I can try to use all your tips and tricks!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646476 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 23:46:46 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2646476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've had to do it a few times. Schedule a later appt, hydrate all day and keep him warm so the. Wins are easier to get to. You can even ask for a heatin pack when you check in but my dude wouldn't let it touch him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646444 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 20:26:45 +0000 psw27 2646444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: no we are at Harvard vanguard. I've heard good things about the center though! (Minus the lab it sounds like!) Hope the move is going well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646418 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 19:34:20 +0000 Foodnerd81 2646418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had it at 1. 2, and 3 year appts, for lead and to check iron I Think. The 3 year one was really bad. She knew what was happening and was really upset. Like, she woke up in the middle of the night crying about it. I felt so bad. But I really don't think the phlebotomists at our office are that good with little kids I moved but if we hadn't I think I might opt to go to a different lab or something. </p> <p>@psw27: you don't go to the community health center, do you? Love the doctors and NPs there but I think the lab is just not good with the really little ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646375 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 17:21:42 +0000 LovelyPlum 2646375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO had to have blood work done last summer, when she was 18 months. WE went to the lab at the Children's Hospital, and she didn't even cry. She took it so well. I just held her and talked in her ear the whole time. She was such a trooper! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646368 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:33:06 +0000 nana87 2646368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done blood draws at 1 and 2 for lead checks--I think that's standard in our city--and lo has been a CHAMP. Cried at 1, but then at 2 was mostly curious and didn't flinch or cry at all, I was so impressed! She actually was worse coming with me to an ob appointment at 2.5 where I needed a blood draw, lol, she was so curious and kept trying to touch everything</p> <p>ETA what helped I think was just talking about what everything was, but in non-scary ways. saying things like "this might hurt" or "be brave" make her expect that it will be bad. the nurse doing the blood draw talk about it being a butterfly that would "flutter" on her arm rather than setting her up to be scared </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646362 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:19:15 +0000 KT326 2646362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine had it done at 2 and 3 years old to check iron levels. I think what helped us the most was me being completely calm and acting like it was no big deal. For his 2 year draw he sat completely still even though they had to poke both arms. The 3 year draw was slightly more difficult only because he was bigger but he still did great. We didn't talk about it beforehand, and I made sure to get someone experienced with kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646360 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:15:42 +0000 Mrs. Cheesecake 2646360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my babies and I cried at their one-year blood draws. Hearing them cry makes me cry and then we're both hot messes. Both times it was really hard to find their veins and they both fought really hard to be released. :bummed: Unfortunately I don't have any advice for you, just hoping that your experience is better than ours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646358 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:13:29 +0000 LilSprinkles 2646358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine did. He has never been on the charts for weight or height. They wanted to check everything out and make nothing was wrong. Nothing was wrong, he is just following my foot steps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646354 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:58:18 +0000 SweetiePie 2646354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had blood drawn at the 1 and 2 year well visits. </p> <p>I mean, I always think an iPad or iPhone video distraction is a good idea :-) But we haven't done it yet for a shot. </p> <p>What about letting her pick out cute bandaids at the store and letting her use them only after the draw? Or tell her she can pick out a small toy after the draw at the store so she knows there's a reward. I'm also not afraid of a good bribe, clearly. 😏 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646345 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:51:43 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2646345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely do blood work first before any shots if possible! The quicker the better, I wouldn't even talk about it in preparation. And ask for the most experienced with kids, it makes a huge difference! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646344 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:48:08 +0000 catlady 2646344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to do bloodwork and lead tests at LO's 2 year and 3 year appts (not 1 year). She was a champ at her 2 year one, but honestly the 3 year one (few weeks ago) was bad. It was probably worse than it needed to be because we had to wait for awhile to have her actual appt, then we waited awhile for her to get a flu shot (which of course hurt her) and then we waited awhile more for the bloodwork. So she was already cranky and irritable and in pain from the flu shot when they got to the bloodwork part. I put her on my lap and held her while they did it. The actual draw was pretty quick but she cried for awhile afterwards and kept telling me it hurt. They burst a vein so she bled more than expected and had a nasty bruise for a week. I felt really bad for her because I think it was a lot worse than our experience last year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646339 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:37:10 +0000 MrsKoala 2646339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had blood drawn at 1 and 2. He did great. He cried obviously and was squirming but we held him in our laps and held his arms so he wouldn't flail. It takes no longer than a minute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646332 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:25:49 +0000 catomd00 2646332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a blood draw for lead at 1 and 2 depending on our zip code. One was tough but she did okay. 2 was really hard, not going to lie. Definitely make sure you have someone experienced with Ped draws. They're pretty quick but she was really scared and flailing around. I'm not one to cry during shots or anything and I was getting really upset for her.</p> <p>We tried to distract her by holding up my phone with Mickey Mouse on but it didn't work too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646320 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:13:58 +0000 psw27 2646320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is anemic so we've done a few blood draws over the 2 years. He actually does okay. Usually they have him sit on my lap and I get the unfortunate job of restraining him. But, they seem to be really good at getting the amount they need quickly with the butterfly needle. He cries but only while I'm restraining him. He's usually excited about the cool bandaids they have. Good luck! </p> <p>Sidenote: my son did have blood drawn around 9 months or a year because they require a lead test in my state. They re-drew it at his 2 year I think too for an updated lead test. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/blood-work-in-a-3-year-old#post-2646308 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:00:47 +0000 Mrs D 2646308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So...DD is 3 and needs to have blood work done. Her ped implied he's sure he would have ordered it when she turned 1 just to check things out...I'm sure he didn't but anyways.</p> <p>She took her flu shot like a champ...didnt even flinch. But blood work - I am dreading. How did your toddler do? Any suggestions to improve the 'experience'?</p> <p>Also - did you have routine bloodwork done at 1 year old? </p>