Take the stress out of baby’s shots

The best thing you can do to keep your child calm is to stay calm and confident yourself, as they sense your emotions, even when they are just a few weeks old, says Des Meyer, registered nurse and midwife at Small Beginnings Baby Clinic in Durban.

So, when taking your child for their shots:

1. Know how vaccinations work

Remind yourself of the importance of injections, and the way they work: simply introducing tiny amounts of inactivated or weakened virus and bacteria into your little one’s system to trigger their immune system to produce antibodies to fight them. These will then be ready to attack when your child is exposed to the viruses or bacteria again. When they are old enough, explain this to them in simple terms. Remind yourself too that while vaccinations may occasionally have side effects, only one in many thousand is serious, says Rosemary Burnett, head of the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre in Pretoria. 

For example, the risk of your child having a serious reaction to measles vaccine is one in a million, but getting measles would give them a 1 in 20 risk of pneumonia, 1 in 2 000 of encephalitis, and 1 in 3 000 of death in a developed country, with the risk significantly higher in a developing country like ours.

2. Boost their comfort 

Take along a favourite blanket or teddy bear. If they're old enough, you can explain that teddy too needs a shot – obliging clinic sisters will often play along, or you can provide a disused medicine syringe they can use themself. Tell older children honestly that shots can pinch or sting, but that this will be over in a flash.

3. When it happens

When the moment comes, littlies are usually most comfortable on your lap, rather than on a table, says Meyer. Cuddle them and hold them firmly. For a very young baby, let them nurse or suck a dummy, if they use one. If they're a bit older, find something interesting in the room to distract them. Alternatively, make eye contact with them, smile, and talk cheerfully. If they won’t be distracted, try taking deep breaths with them and “blow out” the sting.

4. Afterwards

After the shot, comfort a crying baby by swaddling and feeding them. Hug and praise an older child, and perhaps suggest a reward: going for a swing in the park or having an ice cream together. If there’s a little redness, tenderness and swelling immediately after the vaccination, take comfort that this is confirmation that your child’s immune system is responding well, Meyer says. The discomfort will pass quickly on its own. You can help by placing a cool facecloth over the area, or giving a non-aspirin pain reliever (ask your Clicks pharmacist or clinic sister). “Avoid giving anti-inflammatories as the immunisation response is dependent on the inflammatory response,” she says.

5. Consider a topical anaesthetic

If your little one seems especially sensitive to pain during their shots, ask your paediatrician about prescribing a topical anaesthetic you can apply ahead of the next one. This can help prevent them developing a fear of needles and health professionals.

6. If there is a reaction

It’s extremely rare to have a serious reaction, but if they keep crying, run a high fever, have a seizure, show swelling of the face or go limp, get medical help immediately.

Vaccinations at Clicks Clinics

Baby immunisations are available at Clicks clinics, including the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine. Stay on track with your little one's immunisations with the Clicks childhood vaccination schedule.

To make an appointment at your nearest Clicks Clinic, call 0860 254 257 or book online at Clicks Clinics online.