Don't say "it won't hurt" -- everyone has a different pain tolerance. Make sure the appointment is not at the time that their nap is usually taken.
Cindi Shea, RN, BA, AE-C
Winthrop Harbor, IL

My son wasn't fazed by the skin testing, but he came unglued with the blood testing. Since peanut allergy cannot be tested on the skin, he had to have blood work at the age of 15 months. It took several attempts and two different labs to get it done.

He'll be four in February. His allergist says he can be retested for the peanut allergy. Again he'll have to give blood. I plan to explain the entire procedure from beginning to end and tell him why it's happening. I'll act it out with his doctor's kit and let him do the same. Ever since we got the doctor's kit, he has not fought me about going to the doctor's office. He really feels empowered by knowing the names of the instruments and their purpose and by pretending to use them on me. I don't think it'll completely take away his fear, but it will give him confidence.
Melanie Reinke
Trophy Club, TX

Read them a story about it by creating your own pictures together and telling the story or go to the library and pick up a book on it. Read it together every night before bed in the weeks before the scheduled test. Talk about not scratching it and what to expect and ways to cope together during the test. Bring activities to do with your child in the testing area while you wait for the skin tests to progress and while they are itchy to take your child's mind off of it.
Jillian Talvensaari
Los Gatos, CA

My 9-year-old daughter has had four rounds of skin testing so far; the fifth is due later this year. I always explain to her that this is an important tool for keeping her healthy and safe, that the information gathered from this test informs us of what allergens we need to stay away from and how severely she is allergic to something. When she was younger, I would bring a present for her to the allergist's office. And I would hold her hand or stay where she could see me. Then I kept telling her that the present was for her because she was doing something that she didn't want to do but was trying to be brave. It usually brightened her spirits. After the testing was done I'd hug her and then she'd open her gift. She would be so excited by the gift that she would forget about her initial discomfort.

Now that she is older, I make sure to answer all her questions, encourage her bravery and tell her how important it is. Afterward, I take her to the store to pick out a gift. It is a way to make something positive out of something a bit scary.
Sandy McGrath
Willow Grove, PA

Children pick up on our own anxiety. Have a positive outlook. Be as honest as you can. Tell them that they will feel tiny "pinchies" and maybe some of them will be "itchy" like a mosquito bite. Take into account the age of the child. Enforce how important it is to have the testing done. Explain the tests are necessary to help find out why they haven't been feeling well. My son is now 12 (he began allergy testing when he was 14 months old) and he still doesn't like allergy testing, but he fully understands the process. Bring a book, a favorite toy or GameBoy. Don't forget your calm, reassuring, smiley face.
RosaAnna Weldon
Brick, NJ

Have it done at the same time as your child. It's really NOT that bad at all!
Paula Murphy
Pittsford, NY

My allergy doctor told me to lightly press a brush onto our son's back a couple of times a day the week before the allergy skin testing and tell him that was what the test would feel like. It worked wonders! Our 3 year old still talks about it. He didn't cry during the testing at all. And now, whenever he gets hold of my brush, he likes to show his little brother "what that allergy test feels like"!
Sheri Sowa
Austin, TX

My 4 year old had an allergy test done this past spring. I tried to prepare him by explaining the entire procedure to him. He normally does quite well with these medical procedures, considering the number of procedures he has had done, as long as he understands what is going to happen and why they are going to do it. I was surprised when he kept crying through the scratch test, because none of the scratches were reacting. Finally I asked what I could do to make it better. He responded, "Just take all the pins off my back!" I never thought to explain to him that they just scratch him once and then remove it -- he thought he had all these things still sticking in his back! Once I explained they were all gone, he was fine and sat still for the remainder of the test. I guess my tip is to explain every detail, very thoroughly!
Deanna Lipscomb
Dorr, MI

Be sure to take a bag of familiar toys, books or videos to play with at the doctor's office since you may be there for quite a long time! Comfortable clothes that go on and off easily are a must. Think about taking along a comfort item such as a blankie or stuffed animal so they can hold it. Take some snacks, food and a beverage if they are allowed to eat and drink.
Christine Tyo
Sylvania, OH

My advice to my son was honest. He was 5 and I told him they were little needles that would make him a big, strong boy. I think it is unfair to the child – and the person giving the shots – to say they won't hurt. A little bribe or reward after may also help them to sit still!
Christina Hurst
Camarillo, CA

Here is a list of things I have learned about allergy testing from my own very allergic family and from my food allergy support group that I lead:

1. An often forgotten basic before any allergy testing: Do not take any antihistamines before the test for at least 3 or more days! You should speak with your allergist to get the right number of days for your particular situation. This includes not only your daily antihistamine but other meds that might contain it, such as Dimetapp and cold remedies.
2. You should also discuss with your doctor any other medication, inhalers, herbal remedies, special teas or vitamins that you are taking before scheduling the tests.
3. Leave plenty of time for the appointment -- to talk to your doctor, get your skin tests and/or blood tests, and leave time to check the reactions. Usually, after the skin has been pricked, you have to wait up to 20 minutes before the skin test reactions are complete. Some doctors will expect you to stay after receiving a series of tests for an extra 20 minutes or so as well, depending upon the test. If you are doing more involved testing, like a food challenge, you need to talk to your doctor and make sure you have several hours that you can devote to the appointment. If you are testing a young or very active child, make sure you have things to occupy them while they are waiting for their results or you are talking to the doctor. It is a good time to bring along a favorite book to read together or a Gameboy for an older child to play with by themselves.
4. Plan on giving a detailed history to your allergist about your child and your family history. Most allergist will want to know if anyone else in the family has any allergies, asthma, or medical conditions. Do your research before coming for the appointment and be prepared to fill out forms and answer the doctor's questions or offer the information yourself.
5. There are differing opinions on this point, but depending upon the age of the person being tested, the number of specific items that are being tested, and the sensitivity of the individual, you might not want to do all your testing in one session. If you are testing for food allergies, environmental or seasonal allergies, and other things (latex, cats), and you are trying to pinpoint a specific reaction, you should plan ahead with your physician the plan of action. There are many things you can test at one time that are general, some things can only be tested with a blood test, and some things are too risky to do as a skin test. Good planning, safe testing, and good communication with your allergist help make for better results.
6. If you are doing blood testing, you can request lots of different tests on a small amount of blood, from peanuts to grass to latex. Some of the results may not be very accurate, but it is more information to help you in your search for the source of your problem. Your doctor may want to skin test for some things and take blood for other tests. If you already know you have a particular allergy and especially if it is severe, say to lobster or peanuts, it is not recommended to do a skin test for fear of a severe or even an anaphylactic reaction. In these cases, it is safer to do the blood test. You need to find out the specifics for each test from your allergist.
7. If you are doing skin tests with a small child and they need to stay still, I have found it is better to do the tests on their backs using multiple test strips. My allergist lines up the tests on a small board so that there are 10 pricks done at once and he can administer the test while my child lies down. This is not 10 allergy tests, but usually 8 with 2 others for control where you would not expect to see any reaction.
8. And of course, finding the best possible allergist is of utmost importance. If you also have asthma, look for someone with a sub-specialty in this area if you can. Some allergists have backgrounds in pulmonology. If you don't go to an allergist but have any serious issues with allergies or asthma, find an allergist now! If you don't know one, ask your allergic friends to recommend doctors they have experience with, ask your regular doctor for a recommendation, or contact your local hospital or professional physician organizations to find a board certified allergist in your area or at a medical center near your home.
9. And remember, skin tests and blood tests are not 100% accurate. In fact, you can get false positives and false negatives. Some tests are notoriously inaccurate, but we do them because we are trying to figure out someone's rash or cough or eczema. With patience, trial and error, and a good doctor, you can learn what to treat, what to avoid, and what to stop worrying about!

Rosalie Marcus
Mahopac, NY

When our daughter had her first skin testing, she was too little to understand what was going on. To help comfort her, we had her bring her favorite stuffed animal to hug tight during the testing. It really worked to keep her calm. She is now 3 years old, and in addition to bringing a favorite stuffed animal, we have explained what the doctor was going to do and did a pretend demonstration on our daughter's arm.
Krista Plenn
Louisville, CO

I find keeping my son focused on something he looks forward to, like some sort of treat or a favorite activity immediately following the testing, is the best way of helping him through.
Ray Spencer
Claremont, CA

Ask the doctor how he explains the test to the children. If the doctor's explanation will be understood by the child, then the child is in good hands. Otherwise, keep looking for a pediatric allergist. The time invested will make those weekly visits tolerable and the results are well worth the trips to the allergist. My daughter took allergy shots for five years and then stopped as per the allergist instructions. After a very difficult spring she asked to go back for the shots. She said that the shots were much better than the allergy symptoms.
Jeanne Malone
Freeport, NY

Omit all caffeine intake for a few days before the test. Omit dark cola drinks, Mountain Dew, chocolate, etc. Caffeine makes the skin more sensitive to pain.
Guillermina Olmeda
Carson, CA