You're approaching the pediatrician's medical office building, and your toddler gulps in fear. He's nervous, anxious and intimidated. It's called "white coat anxiety," and people of all ages can experience it – including toddlers.

While your terrified toddler may provoke his own anxiety as well as yours, doctor appointments are a fact of his young life. Utilizing the following suggestions may turn medical exam mayhem into fun field trips for both of you!

1. Stay positive and calm. "If a parent has a positive, self-assured attitude about going to the doctor, the child picks up on that sense of confidence, too," says Cheryl Groner, a licensed social worker and the clinical supervisor for Tot-Line, a Cleveland-area telephone support line for parents of children through age 5.

2. Wait until the day of the visit to tell your toddler he is going to the doctor. This cuts down on anticipatory anxiety. Terri Tony, a mother of four from Macedonia, Ohio, usually tells her 2-year-old daughter that morning if she has a doctor appointment. "I don't make a big deal about it and haven't really had a problem with any of my children being afraid to go to the doctor," she says.

3. Take one of your child's security objects with you, such as a favorite blanket or toy. Lisa Gillota, a mother of three from Northfield Center, Ohio, finds that different tactics are required depending on whether her 2-year-old daughter is going for a well checkup or a sick visit. "If my daughter is sick, words of clever explanation would be wasted on her," says Gillota. "I simply bring along her comfort items, such as her blankie, a favorite stuffed animal and a sippy cup."

4. Let your toddler role-play going to the doctor with you. Groner advises parents to purchase a toy medical kit for their child to play with at home. "Let your child be the doctor and give you pretend shots, check your throat and examine your ears. This helps him to master his own fear," she says.

   Mary Rowinski, a mother of six children from Independence, Ohio, says, "We play doctor constantly with stuffed animals being the patients. We're also starting to play dentist now, too!"

5. Portray your child's pediatrician as a helpful, friendly person. Talk about the doctor with your toddler. "I describe the doctor as a person who has a family and is a mommy or daddy, too," Rowinski says.

6. Read books about going to the doctor to your toddler. "It's amazing how quickly this helps children relate in a positive way," says Dr. Charles Griffin, a pediatrician in suburban Cleveland. He recommends finding a book that features a character that your toddler enjoys, such as Barney or Big Bird.

   Although she reads children's books such as The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor by Stan and Jan Berenstain, Rowinski has found some less traditional books to also be helpful. "Some books about doctors that I've read to my children aren't really storybooks," she says. "But they have a lot of real life pictures of doctors doing things that real doctors do." Two of these books that Rowinski owns are Doctors Help People by Amy Moses and I Can Be a Doctor by Rebecca Hankin.

7. Be honest about what is going to happen at the doctor appointment. The old adage, "Honesty is the best policy," holds true even with a 1- or 2-year-old. Rowinski has found this to be especially true when her children have asked about shots. "I tell them that yes, the shot will hurt, but it will be over soon," she says. "It only hurts for a few minutes."

   According to Dr. Griffin, "With some children it's best not to tell them what will happen at the appointment unless they ask." However he stresses, "If they ask, tell them the truth."

8. Take your toddler for his well checkups on a regular basis. Seeing the doctor when he is not sick will help him to feel comfortable in the doctor's office. "I also schedule all appointments with the same pediatrician in our practice," says one parent. "This way, my child sees the same doctor all the time and they really get to know each other." An exception to this rule is if the child is sick and has to see whatever pediatrician is available.

9. Set a good example for your child by letting him see that you take care of your health. One way to do this is to allow your toddler to accompany you to a medical appointment. Although this may not be feasible if you are going for your yearly OB/GYN exam or a special procedure, your regular medical checkup may be a fun way to expose your child to the concept that everyone needs to visit his or her doctor to stay healthy. Rowinski has found it helpful to take her toddler when she gets her yearly flu shot. "It helps her to see that Mommy gets shots sometimes, too," she says.

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• Immunization on the Record: Preventative Measures to Keep Your Children Healthy
• Talk about it!