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Support During Immunizations

Immunizations are important because they help protect your child and teen from serious infection. Sometimes immunizations can be stressful for children and teens.

There are many ways to support your child or teen during an immunization:

Babies (0 to 2 years)

Breastfeed your baby or offer expressed breastmilk. If your baby is receiving a breastmilk substitute (i.e., infant formula) this can be offered.
Do not introduce a new feeding method for the purpose of providing comfort during an immunization.
Hold baby close to your body, facing you, using skin-to-skin contact. Follow your baby's lead and continue feeding after the immunization if baby wants to.

Young children (3 to 12 years)

Consider reading stories about what happens when you visit the doctor.
For young children (under 4 years of age), describe how the injection will feel (e.g., like a pinch) just before the visit; prepare older children the day before.
Tell your child what they can do to ease the discomfort (e.g., sit still, breathe deeply, and relax the arm).
Talk with your child about their feelings and let them ask questions.
Be a role model for your child by staying calm and talking positively.
Distract your child with a favourite toy, blanket, book, music, singing, or telling a joke or a story.
Tell your child to take a deep breath and to blow it out slowly.
Hold your child securely in a comforting hug, sitting upright on your lap, facing forward, or facing you, with the arm exposed. Older children can sit alone if they wish.

Teens (13 to 17 years)

Before the day of the injection, tell your teen what to expect. This is a good time to help them understand that immunizations can keep them from getting sick.
Ask your teen how they are feeling. If your teen is anxious or worried, ask them how they have coped with getting injections in the past.
Allow your teen to ask questions, both to you and to their health care provider.
Encourage your teen to use distractions such as talking or playing games on a mobile device.
Re-use strategies that your teen says have worked in the past.

Available medication options

Topical anesthetics (numbing creams)

Children and adults can use topical anesthetics to numb the skin.
You can buy topical anesthetics at a drug store.
Read the instructions before applying the product. It must be on the skin 30 to 60 minutes before the injection(s).
Ask your health care provider to show you the right locations to apply the cream.

Sucrose solution (sugar water) (only for children up to 24 months)

For babies who are not fed before or during injections, a sucrose solution can be placed in baby's mouth 1 to 2 minutes before injections to reduce discomfort.
If baby is 6 months or older and has teeth, clean baby's mouth by giving sips of water.
A pre-mixed sucrose solution is available with a prescription from your health care provider.
If a sucrose solution is unavailable:
- Mix 5 mL (1 teaspoon) white sugar with 10 mL (2 teaspoons) of water.
- Drop 2 mL (1/2 teaspoon) on the tip of baby's tongue one to two minutes before the injection.
- Do not use honey (pasteurized or unpasteurized) to make a sucrose solution for a child under one year of age. Honey can contain bacteria that can make your baby very sick.

Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (e.g., Advil or Motrin)

These medications are not recommended before injections. Given prior to injection these medications may stop the vaccination from working well.
These medications may be recommended to you by your health care provider after your child receives their injection (e.g., if the child develops a fever).