Parenthood

The most important thing you can do is stay calm when your infant is getting a shot. Your baby will be able to sense your fear and anxiety. Your anxiety can make your baby feel insecure and afraid. Try taking deep breaths and relax your muscles. Other steps you can take to help make injections easier for your child include:

• Take a familiar object such as your baby's favorite stuffed animal or blanket


• Hold and talk to your child during the injection


• Comfort your child with hugs and caresses


• Softly sing a familiar song or whisper reassuring words


• Offer your baby a pacifier or bottle

Since an older child can talk, you can explain how shots protect them. Injections hurt and for this reason children often assume they are harmful and of course dread the pain or the thought of the pain of a needle stick. Explain to your older child that needles are the only way to get certain medicine inside the body to prevent illness. Never let your older child talk his or her way out of getting an injection.

Always be honest with your explanations. Tell the child that the injection will probably hurt, just a little; almost comparable to the pain of a sudden mosquito bite and will last only a few seconds, then its over.

I still don't like being stuck by needles. What has always worked effectively for me has been to just not watch any of the preparation, keep my head turned the other way and eyes closed until it's over. As a child, someone may have taught me to do this while receiving injections, I do not remember, however, the ritual has always been effective for relieving my anxiety about getting injections.

Children also seem to generally do better when they have been told in advance they are going to get an injection, but wait until the day of the doctor appointment to mention getting an injection. If you talk about it days before, the child may worry about it obsessively to the point of unnecessary "sickness." Do share the possibility of getting an injection right before you go into the doctor's office, or perhaps even while you wait in the waiting room for your personal doctor's visit.

Avoid promising your child there will be no injections unless you know this to be for certain.

Other techniques may include:

• Asking your child to take deep breaths and blow during the injection.

• Some parents have found providing a party noisemaker during the injection is an effective distraction.

• Ask your child to count out loud during the injection. You might say count to five and by the time you get to five, the injection will likely be all over with.

• Ask your child to squeeze your hand as hard as the injection hurts.

Do not make your child feel bad if he or she cries after the injection. Most children do cry after receiving injections. Instead, you should praise your child, hold he or she close, and say something like, "you did such a good job." You might even give your child a special reward for the good behavior in the doctor's office.

Common side effects of injections may include:

• Fever


• Soreness at the site of injection


• Redness or swelling at site of injection

If you worry your child is having a serious side effect after an injection, of course, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible or seek emergency care.

Treatment for side effects of injections may include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol or others) before or after an injection. Follow label instructions for correct dosage


• Ice pack on the injection site

I still don't like the thought of and getting injections. Most people, regardless of age, do not like to get injections. With your help, your children too can learn to tolerate the procedure and realize the benefit of the medication is worth the tiny "sting" of pain.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use the information in this article to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.

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