HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: I read the letter from Nana, who overheard a mother scolding her toddler at the police station (courthouse — Heloise), saying, “If you don’t behave, I’m going to have that policeman come and take you away.” I am a pediatric-office nurse and hear similar statements. Mothers threaten that if the child does not behave, the nurse will come and give a shot. I don’t give shots for punishment; I give them because we want the child to be healthy. Not every visit ends with a shot. It’s no wonder some children are afraid of going to the doctor.

It’s heartbreaking to see these children look at me with fear when I call their name. Please, parents, don’t make those who spend their lives helping others into the bad guys. Thanks for listening. — Ohio Nurse,

via email DEAR READER: And here’s another point of view:

DEAR HELOISE: Nana is missing an important point. Yes, children need to know that police are there to protect and help, but they need to be taught the rest.

When children believe they have the right to behave any way they want, they need to be taught that there are rules of conduct that must be followed. Police are there to enforce rules, and there will be negative consequences, even for children.

— Royce C., via email DEAR READERS: You both voiced good points, readers, and I concur. Now, my turn: Why, when showing on TV news or in the newspaper a child getting a potentially lifesaving inoculation, is it of a child crying or screaming? Not all shots hurt, and these images alone are enough to scare even me!

P.S.: Nurses, please don’t “dart” little ones if you can avoid it! I remember some shots when I was little, and ouch! My mother taught me to hum a happy song — it seemed to distract me.

DEAR HELOISE: When applying something like vapor or arthritis pain cream, I put on a disposable vinyl glove — the type nurses and doctors wear.

A box of 100 is under $10. (Heloise here: Less than $6 at office supply stores and drugstores or online.) I wear them when cleaning something dirty, or in cases where I don’t want to get something on my hands.

— Janet in Kentucky