Most parents dread having to immunise their babies and toddlers. They hate having to see their child go through any discomfort or anxiety – and then there’s the post-, or pre-, needle screaming.
Researchers into childhood pain from around the world have put a lot thought into how parents can help prepare their littlies for a needle, both physically and emotionally. Here is their advice:
4 tips when immunising a baby
With infants, it’s all about keeping them comfortable and taking measures to reduce the pain and shock of the needle.
- Many mums swear by anaesthetic patches (e.g. EMLA) that are safe for use on babies and, better still, work at reducing the pain. Available from pharmacies, you stick the patch on the thigh (where infant needles happen) at least an hour before the vaccination and then leave it on until your baby’s about to have the needle so the nurse or doctor knows which area is anaesthetised.
- Cuddle your baby. Hopefully she’ll so enjoy being nursed and coo-ed over by Mum or Dad that she won’t even notice the needle going in.
- Breastfeed your baby before, during and after. Breastfeeding calms and comforts both baby and mother and is believed to help lessen your baby’s pain.
- Allow your baby to suck while getting the needle. If you’re not breastfeeding, give baby a bottle or a dummy.
The routine use of paracetamol is no longer recommended before vaccination, due to the use of improved vaccines with fewer side effects. It’s not believed to reduce the pain of the actual injection, however, if your baby has a fever afterwards or is showing signs of discomfort, paracetamol can help.
What about an older child?
The pre-injection preparation can become a little trickier when your child is older and more aware. Here’s how to prepare your toddler/preschooler:
- Talk to your child about the vaccine: Describe what will happen and how it will feel.
- Encourage your child to bring a favourite toy or item of comfort with him.
- Use an anaesthetic patch like EMLA, applying it at least an hour beforehand.
- Cuddle your child on your lap for the injection.
- Stay calm when your child receives the needle. Your child can sense your feelings of worry which may increase his fear – and fear can increase the pain.
- Distract your child with talk about other things like a recent interesting activity or an upcoming event.
- Ask your child to take a deep breath. Deep breathing reduces the pain from a needle and can relieve distress during the needle so practice counting and breathing deeply and slowly.
- Just before the needle, you could try taking out a party blower or bottle of bubbles and ask your child to take a deep breath and blow on the object, to “blow away the sting”.
- Praise your child for being brave afterwards. Rewards, like going out for an ice cream or a packet of stickers can work wonders.
Don’t tell your child the injection won’t hurt. Tell them it will feel like a sting or a pinprick but that the pain won’t last very long. Explain to them why they’re getting an immunisation and answer your child’s questions honestly.
- Child: Why do I need a vaccine? Parent: To help you stay healthy.
- Child: What will happen? Parent: The medicine will be put in your arm with a needle.
- Child: How will it feel? Parent: You may feel a small sting that will last a few seconds.
And avoid words that focus a child’s attention on the needle and increase fear such as: “It’ll be over soon and you’ll be okay”, “I’m sorry you have to go through this”, or “I know it hurts”.
Related immunisation articles
- All about immunisation
- Immunisation register
- Immunisations for newborns
- Immunisation and primary school children
- New vaccination controversy
- Vaccine facts
- Whooping cough vaccine for new parents
- Your baby and immunisation
This article was FIona Baker for Kidspot, Australia's best family health resource. Sources include The Sydney Children’s Hospital Pain Research Unit.
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