How to Make Shots Less Painful for Children

It is important to ensure children receive vaccinations on time, and it is also necessary to reduce their pain. Fortunately, some simple care and distraction techniques, especially for infants and young children, can effectively relieve the pain during vaccination. Here are some tips to help you take measures before and after your child’s vaccination to ensure they are as comfortable as possible.

What You Can Do Before Vaccination

To relieve pain and discomfort, it is important to prepare in advance. Before taking your child for vaccination, you can try the following methods to keep your child calm and comfortable: Choose an afternoon or evening appointment for vaccination, so that if your child has an adverse reaction, you can conveniently go home to rest. Although the MMR vaccine may cause fever or rash 7 to 10 days after injection, the child may feel unwell for a day or two.

Ask about combination vaccines: Combination vaccines such as Pentacel, which combines diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, and polio vaccines, can reduce the number of injections your child receives. At your next visit, consult your doctor about the possibility of using combination vaccines.

Bring comfort items: If your child has a comfort object, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed toy, bring it along. Books or toys can also distract babies or toddlers during the shot.

Give your baby something sweet: Studies on infants have shown that sucrose solution (essentially sugar water) can reduce acute pain. Before the shot, consult your doctor about giving your baby (12 months and younger) sucrose solution. Another method is to dip a pacifier in the solution and let the child suck on it during vaccination.

What You Can Do to Comfort Your Child During the Shot

During the appointment, caregivers can play an important role in helping to soothe and distract children who may be scared or uncomfortable during the shot. You can try:

Hold your child: Ask the nurse for the best position. Comfortable positions include supporting the baby’s arm with one hand and gently holding the other arm to prevent waving. Toddlers can sit on your lap, facing you, with chest-to-chest embrace. The key is to keep the child still to reduce pain and prevent grabbing the needle.

Breastfeed: If you are breastfeeding, consider nursing your child during the shot. Breastfeeding can have a powerful pain-relieving effect as it combines cuddling, skin-to-skin contact, sucking, and sweetness — all of which help relieve the sting of the shot. Adjust your baby’s position so that the healthcare provider can easily find the injection site while you can hold the baby still.

Give the child something to suck on: Another soothing method is to let the child drink water from a bottle or sippy cup, or suck on a pacifier.

Stay calm: Although it is not easy when comforting a child, children can sense your anxiety. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are taking care of your child. Remember, the brief discomfort of the shot is far outweighed by the risk of the diseases the vaccine prevents.

Can the Doctor Numb My Child’s Skin to Make the Shot Less Painful?

Opinions are divided on whether anesthesia or cold compresses can reduce needle pain. It is recommended to consult your doctor before vaccination. I think it is better to complete the vaccination quickly, as other methods may be time-consuming and their effects are uncertain.

Anesthetic cream: Some studies have shown that topical anesthetic creams (such as lidocaine) can help reduce pain at the injection site during and after the injection. Some are available over the counter, and some require a prescription.

If you are using anesthetic cream:

• Prepare it in advance.
• Ask which part of the body will be injected so that you can apply the anesthetic cream to the correct location.
• Obtain instructions for the specific product. For example, know the dosage.
• Apply the anesthetic cream about an hour before the scheduled injection time according to the product instructions.
• Then wash it off as instructed.

Using the cream may increase the appointment time because they need to stay on the skin for a period to take effect. Pediatrician Dr. Chandani Dezure notes that there is insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of cooling sprays, and infants may be uncomfortable with the spray, just like with the shot.

Ice packs: There is no evidence that numbing the skin with ice before the shot helps.

Can Pain Signal Blocking Devices Reduce Injection Pain?

Over-the-counter pain signal blocking devices are designed to relieve the discomfort children may feel during shots. Opinions vary on the effectiveness of these devices and whether the extra step is worth it, but some recent studies suggest that these devices may help reduce the pain from shots.

If you are interested, consult your doctor before taking it to the vaccination. Your options include:

• “Anti-injection pain patches have small round plastic bumps that press on the skin around the injection site. This sensation helps distract the child from the pain of the needle.”
• Buzzers help reduce pain through vibration. Before the shot, place the device on the injection site for 30 to 60 seconds, then during the shot, hold it directly above where the needle enters. However, some children do not like the buzzing sensation.

If you are worried about your child’s shot, trying these methods won’t hurt, but usually, children will quickly forget. Dr. Dezure suggests that vaccination takes less than 10 seconds, and he prefers to get it done quickly because other methods may be more time-consuming and ineffective. Vaccines are usually administered at the end of the visit so that the child can go home immediately, and older children can even go to enjoy some food.

Ways to Comfort Your Child After the Shot

The good news is that the hardest part is over, but some children may still feel a bit uncomfortable after vaccination. Here are ways parents can help soothe their children:

Let the baby suck: Breastfeed, or offer a pacifier or bottle. Swaddling may also soothe a fussy newborn.

Distract: Rock the child, talk or sing to them, or dance with them around the room. Apply a cool, damp cloth. This may help if you notice swelling or pain at the injection site after returning home.

Give the child acetaminophen: Make sure to use acetaminophen after your child’s vaccination, as using it before may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness. Dr. Dezure notes that using it before may weaken the immune response, and most children do not feel unwell or have a fever after vaccination. But if your child feels pain or has a fever after vaccination, a dose of acetaminophen can be given.

Children will only have mild symptoms after vaccination. However, if your child has a fever over 102°F or other worrying symptoms, contact a doctor promptly. For infants under 3 months old, even a low-grade fever should be discussed with a doctor. Although there is brief discomfort during vaccination, this pain is negligible compared to the diseases it prevents. Ensuring your child is vaccinated on time is crucial for protecting them from serious diseases.

It is important to ensure your child is comfortable during vaccination. Prepare in advance, such as asking about combination vaccine options, bringing your child’s favorite items, and using a bottle or breastfeeding to soothe them. You can also explore the use of topical anesthetic creams, cooling sprays, or pain-blocking devices. Stay calm, as children can sense their parents’ anxiety. Remember, vaccination is an important step in protecting your child from serious diseases.