When do you mention the dreaded "Doctor Office"

When do you tell your LO you're going to the doctor? I'm talking about a well visit or the flu shot visit?
I know some will answer that their LO has no issues going. Not my DS1. He's 5 years old and the moment you mention the "D" word he gets upset. I hear.... NOOOOO! I'm not sick! I don't have a cold!

and so on.

We have an apt later today for the boys to get their flu mist. DS2 who is 3 will be fine. It's my 5 year old. Works himself up.
BTW - the nurses and doctors are all wonderful and calm him down. It's just the anxiety before. After he's fine and we talk about how it's not so bad, etc. Still gets upset before.
Speaking of which... he's due for a Dentist cleaning soon too.

Re: When do you mention the dreaded "Doctor Office"

I'm a believer in the "sneak attack".... My DS doesn't have an issue with the Doctors, but sometimes does not like to get his haircut.... so I don't tell him until we are pulling into the complex where it is!...then SURPRISE!! I usually reinforce that if he is good, we can go to the park or get munchkins or what not after... He responds well to bribery!!

If hes going to get very worked up about it, I wouldn't tell him until you absolutely have to... unless the surprise method is worse...

When do you mention the dreaded

I never hid the doc. I always made it matter of fact. Considering how many times I had doctor appts and also her in her younger years (ear infections) it was just sorta the 'thing' we did.

I tell her "next week we have to go to the doctor" which since about 4 has generally only been on her birthday. A year older, another doctor visit. She love the train they have and the shows. We don't do flu shot or mist so she just goes, they check her out she goes home. She hasn't had a shot in a long time. At this point I almost wish they did. She's going to flip next time they give her a shot LOL. But we talk about it each time she's there, hear that? A baby had a shot, its ok, listen.. see they stopped crying. Hear that.. that's a boy crying before his shot.. poor guy doesn't he know its faster to just get the shot?

She loves the doctor visits, standing on the scale, getting measured, playing with their ipads in the exam room, breathing for the doc etc.

So we tell her about a week ahead then the day before. The morning of "AJ's you have a doctor's appointment today" To wake her up.

My kid is a freak, I know it! but I love her!

When do you mention the dreaded

This happened yesterday to me lol. I didn't tell her I pivked her up from school and drove there. I don't want to deal with extra whining lol. She whined wnough there as it was.

When do you mention the dreaded

If it was a problem, I wouldn't tell him til we got there.
We had an appt today. I told DS when he woke up and he didn't want to go to school just wanted to go to the Dr.

Re: When do you mention the dreaded "Doctor Office"

Thanks all for the responses. Wound up being great and easy. Told him when he got home from school and was a bit whiney but then said he can come to watch mommy and daddy get the flu shot and he's lucky he gets a mist. I explained he's going to smell something. He was excited then. They came with me and DH and watched us get shots. They were begging to go to the doctor's after. Lol. The nurse was great and it was so fast. No issues.

When do you mention the dreaded

My boys love going...they want the lollipop