Article written by Donna Pratico-Lehto, RN, BScN
Having your infant or child immunized can be stressful for both parent and child. Luckily, there are ways for you and your child to prepare for the appointment that can create a better experience for everyone.
Do
- Stay calm and speak in an even and soft tone of voice.
- Tell your toddler or preschooler about the vaccine just before the appointment, older children can be told one day in advance. You know your child best so more or less time may be needed.
- Answer your child’s questions honestly. For example, say, “You need the vaccine to stay healthy. You will feel a quick poke.”
- Use words that lessen anxiety, like pressure, squeezing, and poking.
- Praise your child for their efforts. Say things like, I’m proud of you for doing it,” or “I really liked how you took lots of deep breaths while you got the vaccine.”
Don’t
- Over-reassure your child with phrases like, “It will be over soon, and you will be okay.”
- Use words that can cause anxiety, such as shot, pain, hurt, and sting.
- Give false reassurance, such as “It won’t hurt.”
- Apologize. For example, don’t say, “I am really sorry you must go through this.” These things can make your child feel more distress.
Other suggestions include:
- Numbing the skin: this can decrease the pain when the needle is given. These creams or patches are
available over the counter and should be put on 30-60 minutes before the appointment. Ask your
health care provider about correct placement. - Holding your child: depending on the age of your child, or the child’s preference, cuddling your child firmly in your lap can make them feel more secure, in control, and can reduce their pain with immunization.
- Breast/Chest feeding babies/toddlers; feed your baby before, during, and after the immunization. This can distract your baby and the sweet taste of the milk can help reduce their pain and contains natural calming substances.
- Distract your child: Use bubbles, a pinwheel, or a favourite toy for distraction. You can also sing to your child or talk to them about something fun, like their favourite activity or fun event. If your child is older, use books, music/headphones, or videos to distract themselves.
- Deep Breathing: for those children over 3 years of age, practice doing deep breathing exercises before the appointment. You can bring a pinwheel for them to blow on, bubbles, or pretend to blow out candles on a cake to encourage deep breathing.
- Be positive: praise your child for their efforts so they feel good about the experience. Tell them, “I’m so happy you got the vaccine!” and “I knew you could do it!”
Using these techniques can be a great way to teach your children skills for dealing with scary or challenging situations. Try them the next time your child needs a vaccination!