There is a lot to do with upset and IV’s I thnk. I think it can depend on the entire atmosphere. We are lucky to have had a Children’s Hospital to go to. They seem to cater to small children. I think the key to IV’s or shots is DISTRACTION! Usually at that age they put some kind of thing on it so they can’t pull it out. I would just try to keep distracting from it. You know it may have not been put in right for your son at the time. I have had that happen to me. And for kids a lot of times they may just think they are crying to cry and ignore the fact they put it in wrong. EMLA cream. Keep it with you. So you can numb the area of an IV on the way to the hospital if you have to. Of course at that age they don’t understand that is magical cream as we used to call it. All they know is a needle is coming towards them. Cream or no cream, there is a needle. But it will help dealing with the sting of the needle. Some of the stress at that age is holding them down. UGH, they hate to be held down as infants and toddlers. That made my daughter more upset then the draw I swear. We have been fortunate to get through 8 years with only a few IV’s. And she is a salt waster. When she did get the IV’s she was amazing. I think when she was 4 she had one, and she never budged. It also helps to have good IV putter inners. Whatever they are called, those people that put the IV in. Distraction was our answer. At the Children’s Hospital they gave my daughter a bear and then what they did to the bear they did to her. The actually had a lady just to work with the kids in the E.R. that way. It was amazing. BUT if your child is pretty much sick and needing an IV, they pretty much shouldn’t care by that time. And always remember with your child that has CAH, the IV NOT going in her arm or hand is much more dangerous than the crying and upset she may endure. Her life can depend on those fluids. Think of it this way too, all the crying will be replaced by all the fluids she will be getting in the IV. PLUS at that point they will be giving her Solu-Cortef in her IV too, so if you are worried about too much upset, know that she is already being stressed dosed. Bottom line is, the IV purpose outweighs the tears. As hard as it is to watch.

Before we go to an E.R. ,IF we are in our right frame of mind I try and take a stuffed animal for comfort. If they are an infant, bring along a pacifier if they use one and bring a spare!!!!