Do any of you have experience with taking your toddler to get blood drawn? How was it? I'm supposed to take Violet…

I don't have experience with taking a toddler to give blood, but I've drawn blood from babies, toddlers, adults, etc.

Same here ☝🏼️ my advice for you would be to be as helpful to the phlebotomist as possible. For example, holding your kid in your lap and having a firm grip on your baby's arm meanwhile they're getting poked. Otherwise they might call someone else in to help hold your baby down or wrap them in a blanket to keep them still. Also, know that you can ask for a different person to draw your baby's blood should the person miss twice or more. I wouldn't poke a baby more than twice but some phlebs just dont know when to give up and I hate seeing a poor kid suffer from a stubborn mindset 😫

Honestly, the parents usually do worse than the babies/toddlers do. If you react negatively or show them that you're scared, then they will ultimately be scared. I don't react when my son gets blood drawn, and he rarely cries at all. But I've poked children and their mother would be bawling which in turn scared the baby and made them cry. Just try to be calm and maybe she will be calm enough and not cry much

are you talking about donating blood or having blood work drawn?

@michelle2220 Yes, I'm talking about my baby getting her blood drawn. Her doctor wants to test her for anemia.

Yeah. I'm going to try and be calm, cool and collective as much as possible tomorrow. I'm just wondering when they do draw blood, if she is going to freak out like she does when she gets shots or worse. @ginnalynn

@christineg, That's exactly what I don't want them to do is poke her a bunch of times :/ Thanks! I'll keep your advice in mind

oh okay just had to clarify lol you just comfort them by holding them. they can feel what you're feeling. I usually get my daughter a little gift afterwards

it really depends honestly. she could do really well with it, but usually the tourniquet freaks kids out the most. just keep calm and let her know that things will be okay