Stickers - Costa Mesa,CA

I had 3 homebirths, so there were no NICU experiences, but my 2nd son HATES stickers, bandaids, etc...but his sensory inout is a bit overwhelimng for him sometimes.

But as far as the NICU goes, In my office, I frequently have to touch feet and that includes children's feet. If I touch a child's foot and they quickly withdraw it from my hand and have their knee up at their face, I can look at the parent and say, "Oh, he/she spent time in the NICU, huh?" They look at me shocked, like how did I know that. They retain a memory of it, whether it's conscious or cellular, it's there.

Funny you should mention that... According to the people who have delved deep into the field of perinatal psychology, that is exactly why your son is afraid of stickers. You might do a session w Ray Castelino or perhaps explain to your son what happened with him and the stickers all over his body when he was just born. He must have been terrified with that whole experience and continues to have a visceral experience whenever he associates with them. Good luck!
Aleks Evanguelidi, Licensed Midwife

C. O
This has been a point of argument from many medical fronts. Some children remember what happened from as far back as in the womb. It was once believed that a pregnant mother could read and play music to their unborn child and the child would have some memory of the books and the music. He will grow out of his phobia as he gets older and begins to realize how silly this behavior is. Try using newskin, or bactine instead of bandages, these things will do the same as a bandage and there is a clear layer that seals the sore. You can also try witch hazel, it will leave a clear layer over the sore and allow it to heal. BTW, the newskin and bactine will sting a little so blow on it once you have painted in on the sore. The witch hazel does not sting as much on an open sore. You can find the witch hazel at walmart in the rubbing alcohol isle. I use these instead of band-aids because they don't wash off in the bath once they have dried. Good Luck.

YES. Around the age of 2, my daughter was the same way, and it just passed. She now plays with stickers. Bandaids, I don't know yet, we have not had to use one since then!

My son was the exact samw when it came to stickers and bandages. I let it go and I just had my own girl ones and some for him whenever he decided to like them. I would just wash the scrape and dry it and send him on his way. He would always take other people's bandages or stickers off too. My son is 5 now and it seemed just out of the blue when he finally said yes to the walmart greeter with those smiley faces stickers and wanted a band-aide for his boo boo. Now, he has placed stickers on his dresser and on his shoes, for EVERY boo boo, he needs a cool bandage. I believe your son will grow out of that fear that they get from bandages and stickers, even if nothing happened in the first place. Next thing you know, you will be carrying transformers, scooby-doo, and Handy Manny bandages in a small container in your purse every where you go. "Just in case" he finds something on his skin and needs one. Good luck and have a nice day ;p

my daughter loves stickers but was anti band aid. now im assuming you arent vaccinating since you said - unless he can recall his first three weeks of life in the NICU. if you do vaccinate then he may associate band aids with shots. i think my daughter does and shes 32 months. what i did is started calling them ouchie stickers and got some with a favorite cartoon on them (snoopy right now). she likes to put them on parts that dont have an actuall ouchie but still fights to have them on a cut or scrape. try letting him pick out a bandage he likes with a favorite cartoon. good luck

Hello C.. I haven't had experience with this personally, but a friend of a friend has a son who flips out about things, and band-aids are one of them. He is autistic though, and I'm not sure if your son is or not, but that's the only time I've ever heard of that.

My daughter had that issue also--she outgrew it and now loves bandaids...everywhere! However, it did take probably 6-8 mos before she outgrew the fear of things sticking to her.

db