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My 9 year old daughter, Alyssa, used begin crying one week before her appointment with the endocrinologist anticipating the shots necessary for the blood work. I hated seeing her so upset, but did not know how to ease her mind. A friend recommended EMLA cream and it has worked wonders! EMLA cream is a numbing agent applied topically to the skin about 2 hours before the blood is drawn. You apply the cream thickly to the area where they take the blood and cover it with Saran wrap taped down on the edges or the special plastic cover/bandage that comes in the kit. The nurse removes the plastic, cleans the skin and then takes the blood. The area is completely numb and the child does not feel the shot. Now, Alyssa is much more relaxed about her appointments. She loves the EMLA. I only wish I had known about it before.