Vaccination is a must for all babies. There are several types of vaccinations a baby must take to get protected from dreaded diseases like chickenpox, diphtheria, measles, mumps, polio, Hepatitis A and B, smallpox, tetanus, tuberculosis, Pertussis (whooping cough) etc. These vaccines will help baby to develop antibodies that are essential to protect and prevent from illness.

For new parents, getting vaccination for the baby is a tough job. It is not just needle pricking also the pain that little baby undergoes brings tears in their eyes! Many parents worry about the baby shots because of pain followed by fever. What parents must know that vaccination is critical, and it helps to prevent childhood diseases. If not, any such diseases could be fatal.

To give relief from vaccination pain try these tips:

1. Hug and hold baby close: Hold baby close and hold her little arm. If your baby can sit, then let her sit on your lap facing you. Your presence, closeness and vicinity reduce the intensity of pain.
2. Ask doctor about vaccine drops instead of needle prick: Some vaccinations come as oral drops. If that is a possibility, ask your baby’s pediatrician.
3. Ask about combining vaccine shots: Sometimes vaccines need multiple shots in intervals of months or weeks. Ask doctor whether these shots can be combined into one and given. It is a possibility with some vaccines.
4. Give little sugar water: Carry little sugar water with you. Between the shot feed one small spoon of sugar water. This is helpful for babies who are more than six months. You can give sugar water before the shot or immerse pacifier in the sugar water and give it to baby during the shot.
5. Distract baby with toys and talk: Distracting baby helps. Carry her favorite toy. Talk to baby, show something new on your phone, Disney channel, baby talk … anything.
6. Feed baby: Feed your baby, breast feeding during vaccination make them feel less pain or no pricking pain as it brings baby’s attention to food instead of hurting and pain.  
7. Apply numbing ointment or cream: Ask pediatrician and get ready with eutectic mixture of local anesthetics of EMLA cream. This will help to numb the pricking area.
8. Rub skin after vaccination: Gently rub the skin around needle pricked area. Put slight pressure on the area and it could help to reduce the pain.
9. Apply cool cloth: Take a soft cool, wet cloth and hold it against pain area. It reduces tenderness and swelling.
10. Give liquid: Feed child with plenty of liquid as the child might refuse food because of discomfort.
11. Ask doctor for mild medicine: Contact pediatrician regarding mild pain killer for the baby that could be given before vaccination. They might help you with some children pain killer dosages (based on baby’s weight not age) that you could give to baby beforehand. Do not give aspirin to baby.
12. Parents must stay calm: Stay calm, many times, parents feel anxious and it shows in their behavior.  Instead of making fuss and crying in front of baby – stay calm and show you are there for the baby all the time. Stay calm by thinking, the pain is temporary, and vaccination protects baby for life long.

Follow these tips to give baby relief from vaccination shots. If baby develops fever or rashes contact pediatrician and seek medical advice.

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