Getting shots is something that all children have issues with, and most of them experience fear and anxiety beforehand. It is a big deal for both parents and pediatricians to ease the stress for kids, at least for a bit. There are a couple of strategies that can help you with that as a parent and make your kid’s visit to the pediatrician a bit more comfortable.
Prepare your kid
If your child is 2 or 3, the best time to tell them about the shot is immediately before the visit to the pediatrician or during it. Use a simple statement and say it in a positive tone. Something like „Honey, you will get a small shot today. It’s a little poke that might hurt for just a bit, but I will be there to help you be brave. You need that shot so that you don’t get sick“ should suffice.
On the other hand, a 4-year-old should know about the shot a bit more in advance – at least a day before. Explain to your child that an appointment with a doctor is coming up and that they will get a small poke then that will hurt for just a minute. The important part is to explain to them why they need it – at that age, kids already have some rational thinking.
Give your kid a sweet solution
If you give your child something sweet to taste just before the shots, that could ease their pain. In case your kid is two or younger, ask the doctor to give them a sweet solution of glucose or sucrose a minute or two before the shots – it could lessen the pain.
Talk about the process
Some kids are very interested in why they need shots, how they are made, or even where the doctors keep them – this type of child is much calmer if they know how things work and are given all the details in advance.
For example, you can turn facts into an interesting story for your child – tell the vaccines have been made especially for them and that they are kept in a vaccine refrigerator. This may sound fun to your kid but that’s actually true – each vaccine is safely kept in a vaccine refrigerator in laboratories to ensure maximum efficacy.
Use distractions
Distractions are more than welcome during the shots. You can sing a song together with your child, you can squeeze their hand, talk about things you will be doing afterwards or blow in their face (if it’s a baby).
You can also try the „cough trick“. Research suggests that children who were taught to cough during the shot feel less pain. Coughing decreases the level of discomfort.
In case your child is an infant, try breastfeeding them during the shot or let them suck on a pacifier dipped in sugar water during the shot.
Be fast and then provide comfort
No matter how stressful the shots get, make it quick because it’s better for your child. Many children will be surprised after it’s done, saying something like „That’s it?“
The anxiety before the shots is much worse than the actual shot, so in the case when more than one vaccination needs to be given, it’s best to be done with them all one after another. Only after the last vaccination has been given should you provide comfort to your child.
Use a pain-relieving ointment or spray
Ask your doctor for a pain-relieving ointment or spray – they block the signals of pain from the skin. As the ointment takes time to work, ask about it during the visit before the shots so that the doctor can apply it in time. A cooling spray (vapocoolant) is applied to your child’s arm just before the shot.
Remain cool and calm as a parent
As a parent, you need to keep your cool and to remain calm because then your child will endure the fear and pain better – nothing good comes from a parent that is obviously scared for the child or is looking sad and worried for them. It only increases the child’s fear and anxiety, and the shot is usually more painful because of the unnecessary stress. If one parent is too sensitive or even needle-phobic, then it would be better for the other parent to accompany the child. In case your child is very sensitive or has special needs, it would be better for both parents to be present during the shot.
Remember that your child (if they are school-age) needs to learn that not everything in life is pleasant and that sometimes they need to deal with discomfort and unpleasant tasks – it’s an important life lesson.
Bottom line
Getting a shot is never a pleasant experience for your child but there is no reason it should turn into a trauma. If you prepare your child in the right way, getting shots will be just a 5-minute discomfort.