# Blood test for nervous kids, handy hints wanted **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626 "2015-04-14T07:32:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626/41 "2015-04-16T14:10:12Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_York](#): > > The problem is he’s really a little chicken about other things too. This, right here, IS disapproval and judgment. It might not be enough to not say things like this when he is around- he might be able to pick up on it from your facial expressions, tone of voice, etc, unless you’re a very good actor. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626/42 "2015-04-16T14:14:16Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > This, right here, IS disapproval and judgment. It might not be enough to not say things like this when he is around- he might be able to pick up on it from your facial expressions, tone of voice, etc, unless you’re a very good actor. Bullshit ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626/43 "2015-04-16T14:57:55Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > There’s a topical cream (EMLA, which is an acronym for something) that you can apply over the area beforehand to numb it; the downside is you have to do so 20 minutes or so in advance and cover it with something occlusive (think plastic wrap) to keep it effective. They had to give me EMLA when I was getting regular IVs. It was the only way they could keep me from jerking my hand back when they gave me the shot. There’s an clear plastic band-aid-like-thing that goes over the cream and holds it in place. It does help, especially for little kids. It makes that sharp stinging pain into a dull pressure. As someone who’s extremely needlephobic, I vote for distraction as a first tactic. Give him something to take his attention away from the needle when they stick him. The anticipation is the worst part. To this day, anyone giving me a shot has to sneak up on me to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626/44 "2015-04-16T16:03:38Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > They had to give me EMLA when I was getting regular IVs. It was the only way they could keep me from jerking my hand back when they gave me the shot. me to do it. I’ve tried looking for that, but it’s not a term that is used in Australia, I’ll ask at the local pharmacy about it. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626/45 "2015-04-16T16:55:13Z")
EMLA is lidocaine/prilocaine cream. It’s useful if pain is the problem. Not so useful for fear. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626/46 "2015-04-16T17:11:16Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > EMLA is lidocaine/prilocaine cream. It’s useful if pain is the problem. Not so useful for fear. Yeah, it’d do me no good at all. The pain has nothing to do with the phobia. And **Duke** , I think there’s some wisdom in **Whynot’s** posts; even if they bother you and make you feel like you’re being attacked, please try to understand that there might be a dynamic going on you haven’t considered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-test-for-nervous-kids-handy-hints-wanted/717626.md?page=2)